LAKE COUNTY — Countywide unemployment rose slightly last month but improved when compared to one year earlier, according to preliminary data released by the state”s Employment Development Department.
Lake County”s jobless rate for December was 17.1 percent, jumping up 0.2 percentage points compared to the revised November total. It marked the third month in a row that the county”s rate increased.
Still, last month”s figures were significantly better than December 2010, when unemployment was 19.3 percent.
Despite its rate worsening, Lake County actually improved its statewide ranking, moving up to 52nd out of 58 California counties.
Rates for neighboring counties included Colusa at 23.3 percent, Mendocino at 10.2 percent, Napa at 9 percent and Sonoma at 8.9 percent.
Marin County maintained the state”s lowest rate (6.5 percent) while Imperial County remained the highest (26.8 percent).
California”s unemployment rate did not change during the month, staying at 10.9 percent. The U.S. rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 8.3 percent.
