Total employment took a step backward in the Spokane-Spokane Valley Metropolitan Statistical Area in February, according to preliminary data released by the Washington state Employment Security Department. 

Just over 272,200 people had jobs last month in the MSA, which includes Spokane, Stevens, and Pend Oreille counties. That's more than 1,100 fewer than the 273,350 total employment figure for February 2023. 

The bulk of the decline in jobs occurred in Spokane County, data suggests. Total employment in the county came in at 249,700 for February, nearly 1,000 fewer than a year earlier. 

An increase in unemployment rates coincided with the decrease in jobs. 

In the MSA, the jobless rate rose to 6.8% in the preliminary data for February, up from 5.7% a year earlier. 

Spokane County's unemployment rate rose to 6.5%, a full percentage point higher than the number reported for February 2023.