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

Spokane County jobless rate falls to 7.7%

The unemployment rate in Spokane County was 7.7 percent in April, down from 9 percent the previous month, the state Employment Security Department reported today. Washington’s state unemployment rate was 6.5 percent in April, down from 7.5 percent in March. Job growth has been strong in Western Washington, with the unemployment rate in King County at 4.4 percent, down from 5.1 percent in March. The unemployment rate in the Seattle-Bellevue-Everett metropolitan area was 4.5 percent, versus 5.3 percent the previous month. Still, Spokane’s lower rate is “a good sign that Spokane is moving toward recovery,” said Labor Market Economist Ajsa Suljic. Numbers contained in a different report say the Spokane area gained 2,200 jobs from March to April. Suljic said construction, retail trade and leisure and hospitality all are doing well.