By Elizabeth Wilson–Record-Bee staff
LAKE COUNTY–The jobless rate jumped a full percentage point in November, up from 7.2 percent a year ago and 7.4 percent in October. Although unemployment rates are rising and rank the county at 42 out of 58, Lake County created 530 jobs over the past year, bringing the total workforce to 15,080.
And while the job market is bleak for the 8.2 percent without jobs, out of 11 industry sectors tracked by the state, only five sectors in the county saw job losses, according to the state Employment Development Department (EDD).
“We”re in relatively good shape. We”re a little less than normal this time of year, but there have been worse periods in the 90s when unemployment was much higher, following the dot com bust and 9-11,” according to Dennis Mullins, of EDD”s North Coast Labor Market Region.
The farm sector continued to lead industry gainers, adding 380 jobs for the year. Mullins speculated that job growth in the farm sector is tied to the availability this agricultural season of farm workers.
Last season, farm workers were drawn to another sector, construction. “More people showed up looking for farm jobs this year. The year before, we didn”t see enough workers because construction was still increasing. A lot of those farm workers went over to construction because of the pay levels,” Mullins said.
Farm worker numbers were up from 630 in November 2006 to 1,010 in November 2007. Lake County”s pear industry suffered in 2006 when only half of the 900 workers needed to harvest the crop could be found.
Meanwhile, construction in Lake County has been holding its own, until recently. “Despite the downturn, construction in the county was still increasing. This is probably one of the first months I”ve seen a consistent back-off in that sector,” Mullins said.
In November, natural resources, mining and construction led decliners in the county, dropping 50 jobs in recent months. The sector totaled 890 jobs, compared to 940 jobs a year ago. “Part of that decline has to do with real estate prices and the economy. Less people are building, and in Lake County, it”s still feasible to buy a home, but not so much in other counties,” Mullins said.
Construction is also the weakest sector of the employment market statewide, losing more than 17,000 jobs in the past quarter. Reflecting that weakness, finance and retail also lost a combined 17,000 jobs.
“What you see statewide, and nationwide, is what you”re going to see in Lake County. It”s not necessarily a bad thing, it”s cyclical. There are other counties far worse off,” Mullins said, adding that many job losses in the county occur in stride with the end of the tourist season and end of harvest.
In Mendocino County, unemployment rose at a slightly lesser rate than Lake County”s, from 5.0 percent in October to 5.5 percent in November, up from 4.9 percent a year ago. Unlike Lake County”s job growth, Mendocino County shed 120 jobs over the past year, leaving the workforce at 32,750.
Contact Elizabeth Wilson at ewilson@record-bee.com
What”s Up:
Farm, up 380 jobs
Government, up 130 jobs
Private educational and health services, up 70 jobs
Transportation and utilities, up 50 jobs
Information, up 10 jobs
What”s down:
Natural resources, mining and construction, down 50 jobs
Financial activities, down 30 jobs
Professional and business services, down 10 jobs
Leisure and hospitality, down 10 jobs
Other services, down 10 jobs
