LAKE COUNTY – July saw a slightly higher unemployment rate in Lake County.

Lake County's July 2007 unemployment rate was 7.5 percent, up 0.3 from last month and the matching year-ago, July 2006 estimate of 7.2 percent, according to Dennis Mullins of the Employment Development Department's North Coast Region.

The 7.5-percent unemployment rate for July compares to a seasonally unadjusted rate of 5.5 percent for the state and 4.9 percent for the nation, Mullins reported.

Lake's unemployment rate earned it a rank of 42 among California's 58 counties, according to information Mullins provided.

Surrounding county rates included 9.6 percent for Glenn, 9.7 percent for Colusa, 4.6 percent for Sonoma, and 5.5 percent for Mendocino, according to Mullins. Marin had the lowest rate in the state with 3.8 percent and Imperial County had the highest at 20.2 percent.

Total industry employment grew by 250 jobs (1.7 percent) between July 2006 and July 2007, ending the year-over period with 14,970 jobs, Mullins noted.

Mullins reported that year-over job growth occurred in the following categories: Farm; Natural Resources, Mining and Construction; Manufacturing; Trade, Transportation and Utilities; Information; Financial Activities; Other Services and Government.

Year-over job losses occurred in Professional and Business Services, and Leisure and Hospitality, according to Mullins.

The Farm sector again led industry gainers for the year-over period adding 110 jobs, Mullins' report noted. Private Educational and Health Services and Government each gained 60. Trade, Transportation and Utilities and Financial Activities were up 20 jobs each. Natural Resources, Mining and Construction; Manufacturing; Information; and Other Services each added 10.

Professional and Business Services, and Leisure and Hospitality were down 30 jobs each for the period, Mullins reported.

Visit the Employment Development Department's Web site at www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov.

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