LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County's unemployment rate took a jump upward in November, while unemployment across the country also rose and state numbers stayed flat.

 

The California Employment Development Department's report on unemployment – derived from two separate surveys – showed that Lake County's November unemployment rate was 18.7 percent, up from 17.1 percent in October and 17.4 percent in November 2009.

 

Those numbers earned Lake County a statewide employment ranking of No. 53.

 

California's unemployment rate in November was 12.4 percent, unchanged from the previous month, and up slightly from the 12.3 percent rate recorded in November 2009, the report said.

 

The Employment Development Department said the number of people unemployed in California in November was 2,267,000 – up by 11,000 over the month, and up by 40,000 compared with November of last year.

 

The nation's unemployment rate was 9.8 percent for November, up from 9.6 percent in October but down from 10 percent in November 2009, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

 

During the November survey week there were 600,196 people receiving regular unemployment insurance benefits, compared with 592,475 in October and 781,449 in November 2009, the Employment Development Department said.

 

The agency said new claims for unemployment insurance were 72,768 in November, compared with 67,168 in October and 84,738 in November of last year.

 

Marin County remained the county with the lowest unemployment, 8.2 percent, while Imperial County had the highest unemployment in the state, registering a 29.1 percent rate, the state reported.

 

Lake County had 24,780 people in its labor force in November, of which 20,150 were employed, compared to 25,220 people and 20,900 employed workers the previous month, based on Employment Development Department statistics.

 

Lake's neighboring counties registered the following unemployment rates and statewide ranks in December: Colusa, 20.8 percent, No. 57; Glenn, 15 percent, No. 35; Yolo, 13.3 percent, No. 28; Mendocino, 11.3 percent, No. 15; Sonoma, 10.1 percent, No. 9; and Napa, 10 percent, No. 8.

 

In Lake County, Upper Lake had the lowest unemployment once again, with 9.8 percent in November, while Clearlake Oaks remained the area of highest unemployment, at 27.3 percent.

 

The following unemployment rates were reported for other areas of the county, from highest to lowest: Nice, 26.8 percent; city of Clearlake, 26.4 percent; Lucerne, 19.7 percent; Kelseyville, 19 percent; Middletown, 18.9 percent; city of Lakeport, 18 percent; Cobb, 16.8 percent; Lower Lake, 15.8 percent; Hidden Valley Lake, 15.5 percent; and north Lakeport, 14.9 percent.

 

 

Surveys show different results for state's unemployment

 

Statewide, nonfarm jobs totaled 13,863,300 in November, an increase of 1,600 jobs over the month, according to a survey of businesses that is larger and less variable statistically. The survey of 42,000 California businesses measures jobs in the economy, according to the report.

 

The year-over-year change – November 2009 to November 2010 – showed an increase of 12,400 jobs, which the Employment Development Department said accounted for a slight, 0.1 percent increase.

 

The federal survey of households, done with a smaller sample than the survey of employers, showed a decrease in the number of employed people during the month.

 

That survey estimated the number of Californians holding jobs in November was 15,970,000, a decrease of 2,000 from October, but up 71,000 from the employment total in November of last year.

 

The Employment Development Department's report on payroll employment – wage and salary jobs – in the nonfarm industries of California totaled 13,863,300 in November, a net gain of 1,600 jobs since the October survey. This followed a gain of 43,200 jobs – as revised – in October.

 

Six categories – construction; information; professional and business services; educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; and government – added jobs over the month, gaining 22,400 jobs, the state said.

 

In those categories, construction posted the largest increase over the month, adding 7,800 jobs, the data showed.

 

The Employment Development Department report showed that five categories – mining and logging;

manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; financial activities; and other services – reported job declines in November, down 20,800 jobs. Trade, transportation and utilities posted the largest decline over the month, down by 12,400 jobs.

 

Four industry divisions – mining and logging; professional and business services; educational and health services; and leisure and hospitality – posted job gains over the past year, adding 93,000 jobs, the report said. Of those, professional and business services recorded the largest increase over the year on a numerical basis, up 52,400 jobs, a 2.6-percent increase.

 

The state said mining and logging recorded the largest increase over the year on a percentage basis,

up 3.7 percent, or 900 jobs.

 

Seven categories – construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; information; financial activities; other services; and government – posted job declines over the year, down 80,600 jobs, the state said.

 

Construction employment showed the largest decline over the year on both a numerical and percentage basis, down by 37,100 jobs, or a 6.4-percent decline, according to the report.

 

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