LAKE COUNTY — Lake County”s unemployment rate rose slightly during March and now sits at 19.5 percent, according to preliminary data released Friday by the state”s Employment Development Department.
The 19.5-percent rate is a 0.3-percent increase over February”s revised jobless rate, as well as a 0.5-percent rise compared to March 2010.
In total, ten local industries gained jobs or remained unchanged during the month, but decreases in two industries (farming, and leisure and hospitality) primarily accounted for the unemployment rate increase.
California”s jobless rate also increased slightly, rising 0.1 percentage points to 12.3 percent overall, while the national rate decreased to 9.2 percent.
The rates for neighboring counties include Mendocino at 12.5 percent, Napa at 10.3 percent and Sonoma at 10.4 percent. Lake County is ranked 49th out of 58 counties statewide.
Nearby counties represented the best and worst in the state. Marin County”s 8-percent rate was the lowest, and Colusa County”s 26.7-percent rate was the highest.
