The county's preliminary July unemployment rate was 10.2 percent, up from the revised June rate of 9.5 percent and 1.9 percent above the year-ago, July 2007 rate of 8.3 percent, according to Dennis Mullins of the Employment Development Department's North Coast region office.

Mullins said that, at a 10.2 percent unemployment rate, Lake County ranked 47th among the State's 58 counties.

Some surrounding county rates included 10.5 percent for Colusa, 6.6 percent for Mendocino and 6.1 percent for Sonoma, according to Mullins.

Marin had the lowest rate in the state at 5.0 percent, said Mullins, and Imperial County had the highest with 23.3 percent. The comparable California and U.S. rates were 7.6 and 6.0 percent, respectively.

Mullins reported that total industry employment increased 380 (2.6 percent) between July 2007 and July 2008 ending the year-over period with 15,110 jobs.

Year-over job growth occurred in manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; information; private educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; and government.

Year-over job losses occurred in natural resources, mining and construction; professional and business services; and other services.

Farm and financial activities were industry sectors with no change over the year.

Mullins said government led industry gainers adding 220 jobs over the year. The private educational and health services sector was up 90 jobs and trade, transportation and utilities gained 70. Leisure and hospitality increased 20, and manufacturing and information were each up 10 jobs.

Professional and business services led decliners dropping 20 for the period, said Mullins, with natural resources, mining and construction, and other services each down 10 jobs.

Eight industry sectors gained jobs or held steady over the year, and three declined, according to Mullins.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issued a statement on the state's unemployment picture, saying the entire nation continues to suffer through a slow economy that is affecting jobs and families here in California, and he's working with legislators to include in the state budget an economic stimulus package.

“Construction and financial services continue to struggle in California, but I am encouraged about recent increases in housing purchases and that other job sectors – while they do not have the robust growth we want or expect in California – are holding steady,” Schwarzenegger said.

Discuss this article on the forums. (0 posts)

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (17)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

So glad to see
written by Donna Christopher, August 18, 2008

such growth in government - they do such a great job :wink: And let us not forget all the people that are underemployed or have completely given up on EDD as a means for finding a job. The above numbers stink - the real ones smell worse. Good thing we aren't the worlds largest debtor nation in history or we would be in serious trouble. What's that you say, we ARE the worlds largest debtor nation in history? Guess an MBA from Yale isn't quite what it used to be.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by bearer, August 18, 2008

This county has always had high unemployment. We um do uh know uh uh that Harvard puts out um uh um people with umm trouble uh speaking without um a umm a script.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

uh, um bearer, uh so
written by Donna Christopher, August 18, 2008

I'm uh, guessing you think a um, third term for Bush is, uh, what we really need? I hear ya, what the heck is the dude with a law degree from Harvard doing THINKING before he speaks?!?! American presidents stopped doing that in this century. Didn't he get the memo? And yes, we all know McBush had his script ready for Saturdays discussion. That silly boy from Harvard played by the rules. Sucker, the GOP has only one rule - do, say, act whatever it takes to get in. Then do, say act however you want - we don't need no stinkin' constitution, bill o'rights or rule of law - our only law is the Golden Rule. He who has the gold, rules. Uh, um, I think I'm uh, done now.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by bearer, August 18, 2008

That is the problem, he doesnt think, just recites the mantra. As far as cheating, I believe he admitted to cheating with the third question. What thought is needed to answer when a baby is alive?
By the way, Bush is not running so Bush is not even in contention. Try researching Pelosi and her ownership/ties to T-Bone Pickens wind scam and the measure they want us to foot in the next election.
And the unemployment rate has always been high, caused by local politics, not federal or state.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

recession
written by jmadison, August 18, 2008

So bearer, unemployment has nothing to do with our present economy? Nothing to do with huge increases in spending, like the war? I don't think Republicans can own the title of being "fiscal conservatives" unless they want to increase taxes to cover their ridiculous spending. If McCain wants to continue the war, he should be required to put the costs into the budget AND BALANCE THE BUDGET!!!

• 
• +0
• 
• 

Please bearer, anything
written by Donna Christopher, August 18, 2008

but Pelosi. C'mon, can't we agree to disagree, do we have to bring cruel and unusual punishment into this? :wink: Bush may not be running but he will be a contender, as in point of contention for many years to come, rebuilding what he has destroyed will take a massive amount of time and energy and there is no guarantee we can pull out of this nosedive. A bigger, stinkier pile I have never seen left by someone claiming to love his country.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by bearer, August 18, 2008

The topic was Lake county unemployment which is local politicians stifleing growth. I agree on balancing the budget, without a doubt. There are plenty of places to make cuts through eliminating useless pork barrel grants.

I disagree about the nose dive. The quarterly numbers show no indication of negative numbers in economic growth. Current inflation could be reigned in by lowering fuel costs simply by Reid- Pelosi allowing a vote to allow off shore drilling.

Problem is there are con artists like Pelosi/Gore that have huge money stakes in programs that are causing world hunger (corn) ethanol, increasing costs to consumers, no nuclear plants (even France powers their country with this, and no plan for Americas energy neeeds other then pie in the sky schemes unattainable for another 20 years..

• 
• +0
• 
• 

Aaah Grasshopper, with
written by Donna Christopher, August 18, 2008

great growth should come great wisdom and probably great taxes/fees in order to provide for the great infrastructure by which to accommodate your desired great growth. Its gonna take alot of money to turn our horse & buggy roads into something to accommodate what you have in mind I suspect. Too much of your desired growth will not mesh well with a tourist economy based on our County's rural beauty. You care to measure this countries economic health based only on economic growth. You're leaving out the other half of the equation - a staggering debt (owed to folks who don't have our best interests at heart). No doubt some are reaping jawdropping economic "health" - then there are the other 98% of Americans. I really wish simply drilling off shore would be the magic bullet you profess. If that were the cure to our woes then why have the energy companies who have 68 million acres already tied up in leases not drilled, drilled, drilled? Why no refinery expansions - they don't even apply for them!! This is about the big companies getting the leases to every damn inch of this county they can glom onto. These guys already have really nice places in Dubai - they don't care about this nation. There is no single answer to our energy problem but until we figure out the magic combo - we got big worries. If we do figure out a single energy solution - we will again regain our global standing to one where the rest of the world waves our flags, not burns them. And we could get our arses outta debt to the bad guys.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by bearer, August 18, 2008

I already agreed we need to balance the budget. Pelosi and Reid have spent the last 2 years avoiding doing so.

With gas over $4 it seems that the alternatives are not an option yet. Why can't we do all of the above until technology catches up with the dreams?

The price you pay to be a tourist town is high unemployment. There are only so many turnips in one field. Lake county biggest employer is what? The county? Every other employer is Mom and Pop.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

Wake up Lake County Liberals
written by Yolo Voter, August 19, 2008

Nancy Pelosi is in the back pocket of T. Boone Pickens on solar and wind power, FACT, she holds a LARGE share of stock.....what happens if the congress had stayed in session? They go to an up or down vote on off shore oil drilling, stay with me now, if that happens, the vote would most likley pass with bi-partisan backing, that's bad for Pelosi who holds stock in another alternative power. So, if you want to stay rich like Nancy Pelosi, you sure don't want the house voting on this, and you sure don't want to send this to the senate for a vote, WHY, Pelosi has her hands in the poket book. Nancy Pelosi does NOT WANT GAS PRICES TO FALL! If gas prices stay high, she wins. By the way, since the Democrats took over Congress, the national average for gas has gone from $2.46 a gallon to $4.50, FACT! that's interesting.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

Off Shore Oil drilling
written by Billy Bob, August 19, 2008

We need to start drilling for oil in Alaska, in addition, we need to drill right here in the lower 48. We are sending BILLIONS dollars with a BIG "B", over to the Saudi's, why, because we are dependent on their oil, this is a National Security Issue here people, The United States is letting other country's get fat ass rich off of us. Its time to stop this and demand that drilling start now. 7 years ago they voted on ANWR in congress, it died by majority of dems (and some republicans) pushing the issue, that it would take 7-10 for results to be shown.....DUH, that's NOW! We would be out the situation we are in right now if ANWR was voted and passed 7 years ago.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

You can drill ANWAR
written by Donna Christopher, August 19, 2008

you can drill South Beach Fl, you can drill off of SF. If the oil companies put their oil on the world market it won't make a dimes difference. Gee, your telling me Congress is full of wealthy crooks - what a shocker. How come no mention of the obscene profits the oil companies are making? Especially the ones that have moved the corporate offices (a file cabinet in a room in the tropics with no staff) to avoid paying taxes such as the darling child of the Republican party Halliburton. More drilling is a band-aid approach. And that is fine, we need a temporary stopgap measure till we get this figured out but if you think it is a magic bullet cure you will be dissappointed. We still lack enough refineries so the impact of drilling here and drilling now (a relative term in drilling operations especially when their profits are entered into the equation - they aren't in a hurry in any aspect except aquisition of more land leases). If blaming one political party over the other makes you feel better, have at it - it is a false comfort. Bearer you are partially right about the price paid to be a tourist economy but you forgot the low-end pay jobs that support the tourists. Every mothers dream for her children - 'work hard at school honey, you might get a shift manager position at the local fast food franchise'.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

WHAT?
written by Yolo Voter, August 19, 2008

If blaming one political party over the other makes you feel better, have at it - it is a false comfort.

Is that not what you are doing? :shock:


Every mothers dream for her children - 'work hard at school honey, you might get a shift manager position at the local fast food franchise'.

Be a responsible parent and force your child to expand his/her mind to want to get out of Lake County. Higher Education, Military and even the peace corps. The problem with Lake County is to many parents are contempt with their kids staying there and being bums, getting on welfare and sucking the taxpayers for everything. Show repsonsibility, encourage your chidren to leave Lake County and become part of the working class. Start setting your goals with a higher education!

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by bearer, August 19, 2008

I knew the oil companies were going to drawn in this. Check this out, fact, for every dollar an oil company makes it pays almost $3 in taxes. Also oil companies are publicly owned and invested in heavily by teachers unions, state pensions, and everyday citizens.
I see it as the 3 dollars is 2 dollars to much paid to the government.
The money made comes from fractions of a dollar times the high volume bought.
Bottom line is the government takes a 3 to one cut in oil profits.

Hey, the kids have the same choice to leave the county to be educated, and find higher paying jobs than a jack in the Box manager. They can even start up their own business and roll the dice to win the big prize. A persons lack of excelling is on them, not society.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

bearer, you brought up
written by Donna Christopher, August 19, 2008

the crappy economy in lakecounty with your turnip field comment. My kids did get out of lake county, they are in iraq, good enough for you??? Seriously, your telling me that for every dollar an oil company makes they pay 3 dollars in taxes??? uh,, umm, wouldn't that make them broke and deeply in debt and not setting record profits?? Gotta be more to your scenario so c'mon, out with it. And Yolovoter, there is only one political party in America - the republicrats. If we have any chance of saving this nation we need to stop being democrats/republicans/fillintheblank and just be Americans. And PLEASE anyone that doesn't like what is happening in Lake County - don't let the door hit ya in the arse on your way out.This place was alot nicer when there were only about 30,000 of us.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

First Lake County Residents
written by Billy Bob, August 19, 2008

This place was alot nicer when there were only about 30,000 of us.

Your right Donna, it was nice in pre-spanish invasion 1542. The Pomo, Miwok, Wintu popualation was estimated to be at around 10,000 near the end of the ice age through 2,000 B.C.E. That's just three area Indian Tribes that existed at or around Lake County. After 1542 Invasion, thousands of Native Californian's were killed. Today, less than two percent of the original population exist's for Califonia Native Americans.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by bearer, August 19, 2008

Talk about twisting. Try reading it as oil company makes $1 in profit after it pays government almost $3.

I was speaking in general terms about getting out of the county to advance past as you put "managing a fast food" place. I had a kid in desert storm so I understand the anxiety you feel. There was no direct attack relayed to you as I do not know your parent status. Until now.

I agree there is now only one party. Mcain is left of JFK. Obama by JFK standards would be considered a socialist. Regardless of leanings, niether represents my values.

• 
• +0
• 
•