LAKE COUNTY – The county's unemployment edged upward slightly in November, according to the latest state labor statistics.

Lake County’s November 2007 unemployment rate was 8.2 percent, up 0.8 percent from last month and 1.0 percent above the November 2006 rate, according to Dennis Mullins of the Employment Development Department's North Coast office in Eureka.

The 8.2 percent rate compares to a seasonally unadjusted rate of 5.6 percent for California and 4.5 percent for the U.S. Some surrounding county rates included 14.4 percent for Colusa, 5.5 percent for Mendocino and 4.5 percent for Sonoma, Mullins reported.

Marin again had the lowest rate in the state with 3.8 percent and Imperial County had the highest at 19.1 percent, according to Mullins.

Lake's unemployment rate ranks it No. 42 out of California's 58 counties, according to statistics provided by Mullins.

Total industry employment increased 530 jobs (3.6 percent) between November 2006 and November 2007, ending the year-over period with 15,080 jobs, Mullins said.

Mullins reported that year-over job growth occurred in farm; trade, transportation and utilities; information; private educational and health services; and government.

Year-over job losses occurred in Natural Resources, Mining, and Construction; Financial Activities; Professional and Business Services; Leisure and Hospitality; and Other Services, Mullins reported.

The manufacturing sector, said Mullins, experienced no change over the year.

The farm sector again led industry gainers adding 380 jobs for the year, according to Mullins. Government was up 130; and private educational and health services and trade, transportation and utilities gained 70 and 50 respectively.

Information was up 10 jobs; natural resources, mining and construction led decliners dropping 50 jobs; and financial activities was down 30. Professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, and other services shed 10 jobs each for the period.

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