Spokane County's unemployment rate for May grew to 9.1 percent, up from 8.7 percent in April, the state reported on Tuesday.
The sad news: the May jobless rate this year is exactly the same as one year earlier, 9.1 percent.
Statewide, Washington's jobless rate ticked up to 8.3 percent in May, compared to 8.2 percent in April.
Some good news: Spokane's jobs grew by 2,900 from April 2012-May 2012, the state Employment Security Department reported. That's the nonadjusted number for Spokane. If one were to use the seasonally adjusted employment number, Spokane gained only 1,600 jobs.
To look at the numbers directly, go here.
Sectors seeing upticks: construction, manufacturing and professional-scientific-technical.
Doug Tweedy, the Spokane area labor economist, said the job growth number is based on employer surveys. The jobless number is based on completely different surveys collected from Spokane area households.
Between the two, Tweedy said the employment numbers (which exclude farm jobs and sole proprietorships) is a more accurate number for the Spokane area job market.
The jobless increase reflects the influx of recent college grads getting into the job growth, Tweedy said.
The Spokesman-Review business team follows economic development in Spokane and the Inland Northwest.
Tom Sowa Tom Sowa covers technology, retail and economic development and writes the Office Hours blog.
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John Stucke John Stucke's primary coverage areas include health care, agriculture and the labor market.
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Becky Kramer Becky Kramer covers the environment, natural resources and utilities.
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Alison Boggs Online Producer Alison Boggs posts and manages content on spokesman.com and its social networking accounts.
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Scott Maben Scott Maben is a Deputy City Editor who covers North Idaho news and higher education.
Addy Hatch is the city editor, and formerly was business editor.
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