OLYMPIA, Wash. — The local unemployment rate jumped in January while there was a decline in the number of people working in Whatcom County.
The Employment Security Department reports employment dropped by almost 2,000 jobs in the new year compared to December.
Unemployment in Whatcom County grew to 5.5% from December’s rate of 4.8%.
January’s jobless rate was identical to January 2019, but about 3,000 more people had jobs than a year ago.