LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Unemployment rates in Lake County, across California and nationwide were down in August, according to reports from state and federal agencies that track joblessness.
Lake County’s unemployment rate in August was 7%, down from 7.4% in July and 9.5% in August 2020, according to the California Employment Development Department.
The California unemployment rate was 7.5% in August, slightly below July’s rate of 7.6%. The state’s jobless rate for August 2020 was 12.3%.
On the national level, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said August’s unemployment rate was 5.2%, down from 5.4% in July and 8.4% in August 2020.
Lake County’s August unemployment rate was its second-lowest since the pandemic started last year. May was the lowest at 6.9%.
In August, a busy month for the local agriculture industry, Lake County’s total farm jobs were up by 24.4% over July and 39.1% in a year-over comparison. Total nonfarm jobs were up by 1.8% over July and 5.1% over August 2021.
The EDD said California’s payroll jobs totaled 16,632,100 in August 2021, up 104,300 from July 2021 and up 874,300 from July of last year.
The state’s gain of 104,300 nonfarm jobs accounted for 44% of the nation’s 235,000 overall jobs gain in August, the EDD said.
Of the 2,714,800 jobs lost in March and April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the EDD said California has now regained 1,686,000 jobs, or 62.1%.
In August, nine of California’s 11 industry sectors gained jobs, with government having the state’s largest month-over gain — 46,900 jobs — driven by hiring in local government education as a new school year begins and public schools reopen.
The educational and health services had the largest month-over job reduction — 6,300 — due a large decrease in health services, while trade, transportation and utilities lost 800 jobs.
Lake County’s jobless rate in August ranked it No. 36 out of California’s 58 counties.
Neighboring county jobless rates and ranks for August were: Colusa, 9.3%, No. 53; Glenn, 6.9%, No. 33; Mendocino, 6.1%, No. 21; Napa, 5.5%, No. 9; Sonoma, 5.3%, No. 7; and Yolo, 5.6%, No. 13.
Marin maintained its position as the lowest unemployment in the state at 4.4%.
Imperial County had the highest unemployment in California in August, 19.4%.
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State, federal, local unemployment down in August
- Elizabeth Larson