Total employment in the Spokane-Spokane Valley metropolitan statistical area increased by about 1,400 jobs in August, compared with the year-earlier month, according to preliminary data released by the Washington state Employment Security Department.

Employment in the MSA, which includes Spokane, Stevens, and Pend Oreille counties totaled about 273,100 jobs last month, up from about 271,700 in August 2023.

While year-over-year job numbers increased in August, they came in lower than in July, when total employment was 275,100.

The data suggests fewer people were looking for work in August than in the previous month as the August unemployment rate for the MSA was 4.7%, down slightly from 4.8% in July, although up from 4.5% in August 2023.

Meantime, the statewide unemployment rate in August was 4.8%, down from 4.9% in July, but up from 3.6% a year earlier, according to ESD preliminary data.