Lake County's unemployment rate rose from 16.8 percent in August to 17 percent in September, ranking it 53 among California's 58 counties, according to the Employment Development Department's Friday report.
In September 2009, the county's unemployment rate was 14.5 percent, based on state records.
California’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 12.4 percent in September, and nonfarm payroll jobs decreased by 63,600 during the month, according to data the state released based on from two separate surveys. In August, the state’s nonfarm payroll jobs were revised upwards 44,200 for a total gain of 10,700 jobs, with the unemployment rate at 12.4 percent.
The statewide unemployment rate was 12.1 percent in September 2009.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the nation's unemployment rate also remained unchanged in September at 9.6 percent, down from the 9.8 percent rate reported the previous September.
The state said there were 595,996 people receiving regular unemployment insurance benefits during the September survey week, compared with 620,844 last month and 744,924 last year.
New claims for unemployment insurance were 75,316 last month, compared with 65,261 in August and 69,160 in September of last year, the Employment Development Department reported.
Marin continued to have the lowest unemployment rate in the state, with 8.4 percent, while Imperial's 30.4-percent rate ranked it last among the state's counties, according to the report.
In September, Lake County's workforce included 26,030 people, with 4,430 of them out of work. The August workforce was slightly larger, at 26,370, with the same number of people – 4,430 – unemployed.
For September, Lake's neighboring counties posted the following rates and state rankings: Glenn, 14.7 percent, No. 37; Yolo, 11.6 percent, No. 22; Mendocino, 10.7 percent, No. 14; Sonoma, 10.2 percent, No. 9; and Napa, 9.3 percent, No. 4.
Specifically within Lake County, Upper Lake had the lowest unemployment in September, with 8.8 percent, while Clearlake Oaks had 25.2 percent unemployment.
The following unemployment rates were reported for other areas of the county, from highest to lowest: Nice, 24.6 percent; city of Clearlake, 24.3 percent; Lucerne, 18 percent; Kelseyville, 17.3 percent; Middletown, 17.2 percent; city of Lakeport, 16.4 percent; Cobb, 15.2 percent; Lower Lake, 14.3 percent; Hidden Valley Lake, 14.1 percent; and north Lakeport, 13.5 percent.
State job numbers show drop in September
A survey of 42,000 California businesses, which is used to measure jobs, showed a decrease of 43,700 jobs – or a 0.3-percent drop – from September 2009 to September 2010.
Employment Development Department data showed that nonfarm jobs in California totaled 13,808,500 in September, a decrease of 63,600 over the month, according to a survey of businesses that is larger and less variable statistically. This followed a gain of 10,700 jobs in August.
A federal survey of households, done with a smaller sample than the survey of employers, showed an increase in the number of employed people during the month. It estimated the number of Californians holding jobs in September was 15,975,000, an increase of 7,000 from August, but down 11,000 from the employment total in September of last year.
The number of people unemployed in California was 2,270,000 – up by 10,000 over the month, and up by 69,000 compared with September of last year, the state reported.
The Employment Development Department report showed wage and salary jobs in the state's nonfarm industries totaled 13,808,500 in September, a net loss of 63,600 jobs since the August survey.
Four categories – trade, transportation and utilities; financial activities; professional and business services; and leisure and hospitality – added jobs over the month, gaining 20,700 jobs, the state reported. Leisure and hospitality posted the largest increase over the month, adding 7,400 jobs.
The report showed that seven categories – mining and logging; construction; manufacturing; information; educational and health services; other services; and government – reported job declines this month, down 84,300 jobs. Government posted the largest decline over the month, down by 37,300 jobs.
Four industry divisions – mining and logging; professional and business services; educational and health services; and leisure and hospitality – posted job gains over the year, adding 82,800 jobs. Professional and business services recorded the largest increase over the year on both a numerical and percentage basis, up 58,500 jobs, a 2.9-percent increase, the state said.
Seven categories – construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; financial activities; other services; and government – posted job declines over the year, down 126,500 jobs, according to the report.
The state said construction employment showed the largest decline over the year on both a numerical and percentage basis, down by 50,700 jobs, a decline of 8.8 percent.
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