- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
California’s unemployment rate increases slightly in September; Lake County’s rate unchanged
The latest report from the Employment Development Department said the September unemployment rate in Lake County was 5.6%, the same rate as in August. The September 2022 jobless rate was 4.3%.
California’s unemployment rate was 4.7% in September, which is 0.1% higher than the previous month. The state registered a 3.7% jobless rate in September 2022.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the nationwide unemployment rate was 3.8% in August and September, and 3.5% in the previous September.
The Employment Development Department said California payroll jobs totaled 18,109,000 in September 2023, up 8,700 from August and also up 302,800 from September of last year.
Since the current economic expansion began in April 2020, California has gained 3,191,000 jobs, which averages out to a gain of 77,829 jobs per month, the report said.
The number of Californians employed in September was 18,470,700, a decrease of 36,300 persons from August’s total of 18,507,000 and down 500 from the employment total in September, according to the Employment Development Department.
The report said the number of unemployed Californians was 913,600 in September, an increase of 18,600 over the month and up 144,100 in comparison to September 2022.
As of September 2023, California has added 436,400 more nonfarm jobs than it had in February 2020 at the state’s pre-pandemic high, the report said.
Most of Lake County’s job sectors showed declines, with the exception of private service providing, which grew by 1.1%, and private education and health services, which grew by 4.5%.
Lake County’s total farm jobs were down by 14.8% in the month-over comparison, but up by 25.6% over the previous year.
The jobless rate for Lake County ranked it No. 41 out of the state’s 58 counties.
The lowest unemployment rate in California in September, 2.9%, was in San Mateo County, while Imperial County registered the highest rate, 21.1%.
Lake’s neighboring county jobless rates and ranks were: Colusa, 8.5%, No. 56; Glenn, 6.1%, No. 47; Mendocino, 4.6%, No. 28; Napa and Sonoma, 3.5%, tied for No. 6; and Yolo, 4.3%, No. 20.
Five of California’s 11 industry sectors gained jobs in September:
• Private education and health services: Up 18,200 jobs statewide, thanks to above average increases in general medical and surgical hospitals, continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities, and individual and family services.
• Leisure and hospitality: Up 11,300, thanks, in part, to job gains in the accommodation industry group.
• Trade, transportation and utilities: Up 2,400.
• Construction: Up 2,200.
• Government: Up 300.
Sectors showing declines included the following:
• Professional and business services: Down 10,900. It posted the largest month-over job loss due to above average declines in accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping services, architectural, engineering, and related services, and scientific research and development services.
• Information: Down 7.300.
• Manufacturing: Down 4,600.
• Financial activities: Down 1,600.
• Other services: Down 1,100.
• Mining and logging: Down 200.
In related data that figures into the state’s unemployment rate, the Employment Development Department said there were 368,452 people certifying for Unemployment Insurance benefits during the September 2023 sample week. That compares to 394,757 people in August and 294,085 people in September 2022.
Concurrently, 37,863 initial claims were processed in the September 2023 sample week, which was a month-over decrease of 111 claims from August, but a year-over increase of 3,362 claims from September 2022, the report said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.