WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. -- Preliminary numbers show that local private-sector jobs jumped in June.

Private companies added 1300 jobs in Whatcom County last month. Regional economist Elizabeth Court with the State Employment Security Department says the recent growth follows a long period of job volatility.



Court says Whatcom County is following the state trend of private-sector hiring along with the continuing shedding of government jobs.

Trade and transportation added the most jobs, while state government jobs were lost.

She says similar patters in job growth were also found in Skagit and San Juan counties.

Whatcom County's unemployment rate was down two tenths of a percent from May to June.