Whatcom unemployment down slightly but still higher than pre-pandemic numbers

OLYMPIA, Wash. — The local unemployment rate was down a bit last month but still shows the Whatcom job market has a way to go to recover from the pandemic.

The Employment Security Department reports a local jobless rate of 6.7% last month, down from 7.1% in February.

It was almost a point higher than the unemployment rate in March 2020, before the pandemic shutdown took hold.

Figures show there were about 7000 fewer people working from a slightly shrunken workforce in Whatcom County compared to a year ago.