- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Lake County, state and nation record improved February unemployment rates
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Unemployment rates across Lake County, California and the United States showed improvement in February, according to a Friday report.
Lake County's February unemployment rate was 8.3 percent, down from a revised 9 percent in January and much improved over the 10.2 percent rate reported in February 2014, according to the California Employment Development Department.
Statewide, unemployment was 6.7 percent in February, down from 7 percent in January and 8 percent last February, the Employment Development Department reported. California's unemployment rate is based on a survey of 5,500 households.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in February nationwide unemployment was 5.5 percent, down from 5.7 percent in January and 6.7 percent in February, 2014.
California's nonfarm jobs totaled 15,949,200 in February, an increase of 29,400 jobs over the month. The year-over-year change, February 2014 to February 2015, showed an increase of 476,400 jobs – up 3.1 percent – according to a survey of 58,000 businesses that measures jobs in the economy.
The federal survey of households showed an increase in the number of employed people, estimating that Californians holding jobs in February totaled 17,668,000, an increase of 48,000 from January, and up 450,000 from the employment total in February of last year.
The number of people unemployed in California was 1,275,000, down by 42,000 over the month, and down by 217,000 compared with February of last year, the state said.
Not only did Lake County's unemployment rate drop in February, its placement among the state's counties also improved slightly, rising to No. 32 from No. 33 in January.
Neighboring counties were ranked as follows: Colusa, 22.7 percent, No. 58; Glenn, 10.4 percent, No. 42; Mendocino, 6.6 percent, No. 20; Napa, 7 percent, No. 5; Sonoma, 4.9 percent, No. 6; Yolo, 7.5 percent, No. 28.
San Mateo County had the lowest unemployment statewide – 3.5 percent – the report showed.
Within Lake County itself, February unemployment rates were as follows, from lowest to highest: Nice, 2.1 percent; Cobb, 3.9 percent; north Lakeport, 5.2 percent; Hidden Valley Lake, 5.6 percent; city of Lakeport, 5.6 percent; Middletown, 6.6 percent; Upper Lake, 6.8 percent; Clearlake Oaks, 7.9 percent; Kelseyville, 8.2 percent; city of Clearlake, 12.2 percent; Lucerne, 14.2 percent; and Lower Lake, 15.8 percent.
Lake County's workforce has shown growth over the last few months. In February, it totaled 30,140 individuals, down slightly from 30,240 in January and 29,830 in February 2014, according to the state.
Taken as a whole, all Lake County job sectors showed a growth rate of 1.1 percent over the month and 3.7 percent over the year, based on a review of the report data.
The “total farm” industry category in Lake County once again showed the most growth – 19 percent – of any sector, as the county heads into the agricultural growing season.
Among the “total nonfarm” subcategories, wholesale trade grew by 7.1 percent over the month, with government showing a 0.7 percent growth rate.
Sectors showing declines included nondurable goods (-4.2 percent), goods producing (-2.5 percent), and transportation, warehousing and utilities (-1.8 percent).
Reviewing statewide job sectors showing changes, mining and logging; construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; financial activities; professional and business services; educational and health services; and leisure and hospitality added jobs over the month.
At the same time, information, other services and government reported job declines, and construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; information; financial activities; professional and business services; educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; other services; and government posted job gains, the state said.
Also on Friday, the Employment Development Department reported that there were 426,874 people receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the February survey week, compared with 397,142 in January and 539,062 in February of last year.
At the same time, new claims for Unemployment Insurance were 43,302 in February, compared with 40,989 in January and 65,494 in February of last year, the state reported.
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.