Spokane County unemployment rate increased to 5.6% in January

Spokane County’s unemployment rate increased to 5.6% in January, according to the Washington state Employment Security Department.

The county shed 4,500 nonfarm and 4,600 private sector jobs in January, compared to a month prior, according to the department.

The construction sector dropped 700 jobs, retail trade lost 1,300 jobs, and the state government sector gained 500 jobs in January.

The county’s unemployment rate was in 4.8% December and 6.8% in December 2018.