LAKE COUNTY — Lake County followed the climb of the state unemployment rate in January, with a jobless rate of 19.6 percent, up 1.4 percentage points over the revised December rate of 18.2 percent.
The county”s unemployment rate is up 4.3 percentage points since January 2009. California”s comparable rate rose to 13.2 percent, without being seasonally adjusted, according to the Employment Development Department. It”s a record-high for joblessness. State unemployment went up 2.9 percentage points over the year.
Lake County ranks 50th among the state”s 58 counties. Only eight counties have higher unemployment, EDD stated.
Surrounding county joblessness rates include Colusa with 27.4 percent, Mendocino with 12.7 percent and Sonoma with 11.3 percent, EDD reported. Mono County had the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 8.1 percent and Colusa County had the highest.
The U.S. rate was 10.6 percent, up 2.1 percentage points over the year. Unemployment rose in 30 states in January.
Lake County industries lost 160 jobs between December and January, ending the month-over period with 12,370 jobs.
Farm and private educational and health services hired more people in January than in December in Lake County, EDD reported. Manufacturing, information and financial activities industries had no change in employees over the year.
However, other industries took hits from December to January, including leisure and hospitality with 90 fewer jobs, mining, logging and construction with 80 fewer employees, and trade transportation and utilities cutting 70 jobs. During that time period, government slashed 40 positions, professional and business services employed 30 fewer people and other services cut 10 jobs.
