WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. – Unemployment in Whatcom and other Northwest Washington counties soared in April.

The Employment Security Department reports Whatcom County’s unemployment rate rose to 17.2% last month, higher than the statewide rate of 15.8%.

Skagit County’s rate was even higher at 19.1% and San Juan County came in at 17.3%.

Snohomish County had the highest unemployment rate of all counties in the state at just over 20%.

Nearly 17% of Whatcom County’s workforce was idle as the economic shutdown caused by the coronavirus took hold.