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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Unemployment rate climbs throughout North Idaho

Staff report
The unemployment rate rose to 7.8 percent in Kootenai County last month, an increase of four-tenths of a percentage point over May, the Idaho Department of Labor said Thursday. The jobless rate in Coeur d’Alene was 7.5 percent, up from 7 percent the month before. Statewide unemployment rose two-tenths of a point to 6.4 percent in June, despite strong growth in nonfarm jobs. It was the second straight month unemployment went up after 21 months during which the rate fell more than two full points. The jobless rate was up sharply elsewhere in North Idaho last month: 10.8 percent in Benewah County, up from 9 percent in May; 9 percent in Bonner County, from 8.4 percent; 7.7 percent in Boundary County, from 6.6 percent; and 11.7 percent in Shoshone County, from 10.6 percent. The surge in unemployment in part reflected an increase of more than 1,400 people entering the labor force in June and looking for jobs, the state said.