Spokane County employers hired almost 4,000 workers last month, dropping the unemployment rate almost two percent in the process.

From 214,300 workers in March, the employment rolls increased to 218,200. A year ago, total employment was 220,140.

The unemployment rate fell to 8.8 percent from 10.7 percent in March, and was only marginally above the 8.7 percent rate of a year ago

The news was also good statewide, the Washington Employment Security Department reported today.

State employers added 5,800 jobs, using numbers adjusted for the season, and more than 50,000 unadjusted. Spokane County figures are not adjusted.

The state unemployment rate sliped to 9.2 percent seasonally adjusted, and 8.7 percent not adjusted. It was the first decline in the Washington unemployment rate in more than three years.

The rate for the United States was 9.9 percent seasonally adjusted.

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