- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Lake County unemployment rate increased slightly in October
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The latest report from the California Employment Development Department reported that unemployment was down across the state, but up slightly nationwide and here in Lake County.
Lake County's unemployment in October was 11.5 percent, the report showed, up from 11.1 percent in September but an improvement compared to the 13.7 percent rate recorded in October 2012.
The U.S. unemployment rate increased to 7.3 percent in October, up from 7.2 percent in September but down from 7.9 percent recorded the previous October, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
California’s unemployment rate was 8.7 percent in September and October, down from 8.9 percent in August and 10.1 percent in October 2012, the report showed.
Nonfarm jobs in California totaled 14,713,600 in October, an increase of 39,800 jobs over the month, according to the report.
The number of people unemployed in California was 1,612,000 – down by 18,000 over the month, and down by 250,000 compared with October of last year, the Employment Development Department reported.
While Lake County's unemployment increased in this latest report, the rate for October remains the second-lowest – with September being the lowest – since October 2008.
During that time, Lake County unemployment peaked at 19 percent in January 2010, state data showed.
Job growth in Lake County between September and October occurred in sectors including information, 6.7 percent; government, 1.5 percent; and educational and health services, 0.4 percent, the report noted. Decreases occurred in industries including goods producing, -26.9 percent; farm, -17 percent; and leisure and hospitality, 5.7 percent.
Once again, Marin maintained its No. 1 ranking for lowest unemployment, with 4.8 percent, while Imperial continued to rank No. 58 for its 25.2-percent rate, according to the state.
Lake County's October unemployment rate earned it a ranking of No. 48 out of the state's 58 counties.
Lake's neighboring counties ranked as follows in October, according to the Employment Development Department: Colusa, No. 56, 12.6 percent, Glenn, No. 39, 10 percent; Mendocino, No. 13, 7.1 percent; Napa, No. 3, 5.3 percent; Sonoma, No. 6, 6.1 percent; and Yolo, No. 24, 8.3 percent.
The Employment Development Department also reported that there were 405,761 people receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the October survey week, compared with 362,532 in September and 453,448 last year.
At the same time, new claims for unemployment insurance were 72,737 in October, compared with 37,333 in September and 55,543 in October of last year, the state reported.
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