WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Whatcom County’s economy saw some promising news in June despite some job losses.

The Washington State Employment Security Department says the county lost 1,044 jobs from May.

The drop in jobs was largely caused by a decrease in the labor force, which fell by more than 1,600 people.

Overall, the county’s non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped from 4.5% to 4.1%. It marked the fourth straight month without an increase, although the jobless rate has remained higher than last year’s over that span.

Skagit County has seen a nearly identical trend over the past four months, falling from 5% to 4.4% in June.

Both counties sit below the statewide unemployment rate of 4.7%, non-seasonally adjusted.