Spokane County’s unemployment rate drops to 4.9 percent in July

Spokane County’s unemployment rate dipped below 5 percent in July– a sign of continued strength in the local job market.

The jobless rate was 4.9 percent last month. The rate dropped from 5 percent in June and compared to 5.2 percent in July 2017.

Spokane County may be on track for an unemployment rate averaging below 5 percent for the 2018 calendar year, said Doug Tweedy, the state Employment Security Department’s regional labor economist.

The county’s yearly unemployment rate hasn’t been that low since 1998, he said.

Other July unemployment rates, by county, were: Stevens, 6 percent; Pend Oreille, 6.4 percent; Ferry, 9.6 percent; Lincoln, 4.1 percent; Adams, 3.9 percent and Whitman, 4.9 percent.