Washington jobless rates hold at 5.8 percent

The unemployment rate in Washington held steady in February at 5.8 percent. The state added an estimated 10,600 jobs last month, the Washington Employment Security Department said Wednesday.

The February rate for counties has not been released yet. In January, the jobless rate in Northeastern Washington ranged from 7.5 percent in Spokane County to 13.3 percent in Ferry County. The lowest rate east of the Cascades was 5.2 percent in Whitman County.

The national jobless rate for February was 4.9 percent.

The biggest job gains in the state last month were in the leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, and retail sectors. Job losses were tracked in education and health services, wholesale trade and manufacturing.

During the one-year period ending in February, about 96,200 jobs were added statewide. About 209,000 people are listed as unemployed across Washington.