LAKE COUNTY — County unemployment dropped to 14 percent in August, the lowest rate of the year, according to preliminary data released by the Employment Development Department Friday.
The rate represented a 0.7-percent decrease compared to July and a 1.6-percent decrease below August 2011.
Wage and salary employment in the county increased by 430 jobs between July and August, helped mostly by additions in the farming industry.
The county”s unemployment rate continued to rank in the bottom half of the state. It was 45th out of 58 California counties.
Rates for neighboring counties included Colusa at 15.2 percent, Mendocino at 9.3 percent, Napa at 7.5 percent and Sonoma at 8.3 percent.
Marin County retained the best rate in the state at 6.3 percent. Imperial County posted the highest at 29.9 percent.
Lake County unemployment stayed well above state and national totals.
The comparable California rate, not seasonally adjusted, was 10.4 percent in August — a decrease of 0.5 percent compared to July.
National unemployment dropped slightly to 8.1 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
