After reaching a two-year low in June, the Spokane-Spokane Valley Metropolitan Statistical Area’s unemployment rate rose to 4.3% in July, up from 3.4% a month earlier, preliminary data from the Washington state Employment Security Department shows.

Despite the monthly increase, the unemployment rate is down from 4.7% a year earlier.

Employers in the Spokane area added 1,700 jobs during the 12 months ending in July. Total jobs dropped by 2,000 from June to July, however.

The Spokane-Spokane Valley MSA includes Spokane and Stevens counties.