LAKE COUNTY – The county's October unemployment rate edged slightly upward from September and was noticeably higher over October 2006, according to the latest state figures.

 

Lake County’s October 2007 unemployment rate was 7.4 percent, up 0.4 percent from September and 1.4 percent above the year-ago, October 2006 rate, according to a report from Dennis Mullins of Employment Development Department's Labor Market Information Division.

October's jobless 7.4 percent jobless rate in Lake County compares to a seasonally unadjusted rate of 5.4 percent for California and 4.4 percent for the U.S., Mullins reported.

Some surrounding county rates included 9.2 percent for Colusa, 5.0 percent for Mendocino and 4.4 percent for Sonoma, Mullins added. Marin again had the lowest rate in the state with 3.8 percent and Imperial County had the highest at 20.3 percent.

Lake County's October unemployment rate ranks it 44 among the state's 58 counties.

Total industry employment increased 470 jobs (3.1 percent) between October 2006 and October 2007, ending the year-over period with 15,810 jobs, according to Mullins' report.

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

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

Industry sectors with no change over the year were manufacturing and financial activities, Mullins added.

The farm sector again led industry gainers adding 190 jobs for the year, according to Mullins. Private educational and health services gained 120 jobs and government added 100.

In addition, Mullins reported that trade, transportation and utilities gained 50; leisure and hospitality, and other services were up 30 jobs each; information picked up 10 jobs.

Losing jobs, according to Mullins, were natural resources, mining and construction, which shed 50 jobs, and professional and business services dropped 10 for the year-over period.

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