WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Whatcom County’s unemployment rate dropped slightly to start off 2026.

That’s according to the latest report from the Washington State Employment Security Department, which pegged the county’s non-seasonally adjusted jobless rate at an even 5% in January.

It was down from 5.1% in December 2025 but ticked up slightly from the same time last year, where it sat at 4.6% in January 2025.

Whatcom’s seasonally adjusted rate won’t be released until next week.

It comes days after the department announced that the state’s unemployment rate has reached a four-year high.

The state has been delayed in reporting unemployment data due to delays stemming from last year’s federal government shutdown.

The February jobs report for Whatcom County is expected to be released in two weeks.