January is typically a bad time of year for unemployment in Whatcom County, and this year was no different. The unemployment rate in Whatcom County rose to 9.6 percent in January, up from 8.2 percent in December 2010, according to a report from the Employment Security Department.

While that is a significant jump, it is still better than last January when local unemployment was 10.1 percent. Also, two sectors managed to post job gains this year compared to last January: manufacturing added 300 jobs as did leisure and hospitality. Overall, though, the private sector lost 900 jobs year-over-year.

Looking at the state as a whole, unemployment dropped from 9.3 percent to 9.1 in January and an estimated 11,000 jobs were created.

To see the whole report, visit www.esd.wa.gov, click on News & Information, then select labor statistics.