The unemployment rate in King County for the month of October was 5.1 percent, more than a percentage point better than the statewide average but well above the county’s rate 12 months ago.

In statistics released today by the state Employment Security Department, King County had one of the lowest jobless percentages among Washington’s counties last month, but had risen from the 4.7 percent rate of September. In October 2007, King County’s unemployment was at 3.7 percent.

State officials said the nation’s economic woes continued to be felt in Washington in October, where the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate statewide increased to 6.3 percent from September’s rate of 5.8 percent.

At the same time, the roughly 24,000 aerospace workers that were on strike against Boeing in October contributed to a net loss of 23,200 non-agricultural jobs. Without the strike, jobs in Washington increased by about 800, said Mary Ayala, chief economist for Employment Security Department.

The national unemployment rate last month was 6.5 percent. That’s an increase from the 6.1 percent of September and the 4.8 percent of October 2007.