Total employment in the Spokane-Spokane Valley metropolitan statistical area continues to tick upward with 281,100 jobs reported in June, nearly 5,200 more than a year earlier, preliminary figures from the Washington state Employment Security Department show.

Despite the increase in total employment, the unemployment rate was 4.2%, up from 3.6% a year earlier, as more people are looking for work in the MSA.

The MSA is comprised of Spokane, Stevens, and Pend Oreille counties, with Spokane being its population center.

Nearly 4,800 of the additional jobs reported in the preliminary figures were in Spokane County. Stevens County gained just over 300 jobs, and Pend Oreille County gained less than 100.

As ESD reported earlier this month, Washington state gained about 51,000 jobs between June 2023 and last month.