The economy in the Tri-Cities is the fastest-growing in Washington.

The local economy added more than 5,000 nonfarm jobs in the past 12 months, a gain of 5.8 percent, the state regional labor economist said Tuesday.

In contrast, nonfarm jobs increased by 2.7 percent in the state and by 1.1 percent nationally in the same period, said regional labor economist Dean Schau.

The loss of seasonal agricultural employment, which fell from 12,400 in October to 8,300 in November, was offset by gains in holiday hiring, especially in retail trade and customer service jobs.

Additionally, 42 new jobs were created at Hanford's vitrification plant last month. Over the year, about 941 new positions were added.

Schau said that while $1 of every $6 in the Tri-Cities still comes from Hanford, the growth of jobs in food processing/wine making, tourism and at Washington State University Tri-Cities and Columbia Basin College suggests that other sectors of the economy are generating their own momentum.

The economy has broadened, matured and continues to attract new residents, creating sustained growth that Schau said should continue in the future.

The decline in ag jobs is temporary, Schau said. The unemployment rate in Benton and Franklin counties inched from 4.2 percent in October to 5.6 percent in November and the number of unemployed in both counties stood at about 6,620.

But the scenario is better than what it was in November 2006, when the unemployment rate hovered at 6.3 percent and 7,060 were unemployed in the area, Schau said.

And, as recently as last week, ConAgra Foods was looking for line mechanics at its processing plants, said Candice Bluechel, business services manager at WorkSource Columbia Basin.

WorkSource held a special hiring event for the company, which recently expanded its Pasco plant, she said. The $14 million expansion helped create about 100 new jobs.

The number of wineries in the area also has grown in the past few years, Bluechel said, bringing more visitors to the area and increasing retail sales.

In wine manufacturing, employment grew from an average of 484 in the second quarter of 2006 to an average of 608 in the second quarter of 2007.

In food and vegetable processing, about 228 new jobs were created, increasing the number of workers from 2,482 to 2,710 in the same period. The number might go up to 4,000 next year if the potato harvest is good, Schau said.

Also, the demand for housing has not slowed in the Tri-Cities, he said, adding it's a good indicator that new people are moving into the community.

Job growth held constant in financial services in November, but health care sector saw a moderate increase. Hiring at school districts also increased in November, almost doubling the gains of the past three years, Schau said.

"Perhaps the schools are simply trying to keep up with the growing population," he said.

In Washington, more than 5,000 new nonfarm jobs were created in November.

"We're still pretty good in the state," said Evelina Tainer, chief economist for the Employment Security Department.

Washington's jobless rate decreased marginally to 4.7 percent in November from 4.8 percent in October. She said she expects the state economy to be fine even in the face of potential slower growth nationally next year.

A weak dollar is helping the growth of Washington's aerospace and software exports, she said.