LAKE COUNTY — Countywide unemployment increased slightly in January but marked an improvement compared to the same time last year, according to preliminary data released by the state”s Employment Development Department.
Lake County”s January jobless rate was 16.5 percent, a 0.5-percent increase over the revised December 2011 figures.
However, the 16.5-percent rate was 2.5 percent lower than the revised January 2011 rate of 19 percent. Lake County employment increased by 750 jobs during the yearlong span.
Despite the monthly increase, Lake County improved its statewide ranking by nine spots. The county now ranks 43rd out of 58 California counties, marking the first time it has been within the top 50 since July 2011.
Rates for neighboring counties in January included Mendocino at 10.7 percent, and Napa and Sonoma both at 9.2 percent.
Marin County held onto the lowest rate statewide, coming in at 6.6 percent, while Colusa County replaced Imperial County as highest in the state, sitting at 27 percent.
The comparable California rate for January was 11.3 percent (a 0.4-percent increase over the month) and the U.S. rate was 8.8 percent (up 0.5 percent).
