BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Unemployment remains at historically low rates in Whatcom County and northwest Washington.

The Employment Security Department reports more people joined the local workforce in June and more jobs were added.

That kept the unemployment rate steady in Whatcom County at 3.1%.

That contrasts with a 4.8% rate a year ago.

Skagit County had a 3.3% jobless rate in June, while just 2.3% of San Juan County’s workforce was idle.