Unemployment drops in North Bay, California, U.S.
Jenna V. Loceff, Business Journal Staff Reporter
NORTH BAY — The jobless rate decreased month over month in all North Bay counties in May, though still above 2009 rates for the same period, according to figures released by the Employment Development Department today.
The unemployment rate in Sonoma County was 10.0 percent, down from 10.6 percent in April and up from 9.4 percent in May 2009.
The year-over-year increase was due in part to 1,200 jobs lost in construction as well as 1,500 fewer jobs in the government sector. Though from last month, 400 jobs were added in construction and both leisure and hospitality and government saw an increase of 500 jobs.
In Napa County the rate was 9.0 percent, down from 9.9 percent in April and up from 8.0 percent last May. The year-over-year change saw 700 fewer jobs in construction but a gain of 400 jobs in manufacturing.
Marin County had the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 7.9 percent, down from 8.4 percent last month and up only slightly from 7.7 percent in May 2009. Industry-specific numbers were not available.
Solano County had a drop in joblessness to 11.8 percent from 12.2 percent in April. Last May the rate was 10.3 percent, with the increase due mostly to 700 jobs lost in construction and 1,000 more in government. From last month, 200 jobs were added in the leisure and hospitality sector.
Ranked as the 48th highest rate out of 58 in the state, Lake County dropped to 17.1 percent from 18.6 percent in April, compared with 14.7 percent in 2009. Mendocino County was at 10.8 percent, down from 12.0 percent last month and up from 10.0 percent last year.
Unemployment rates for North Bay counties
| County | May 2009 | April 2010 | May 2010 | State rank (out of 58) |
| Lake | 14.7% | 18.6% | 17.1% | 48 |
| Marin | 7.7% | 8.4% | 7.9% | 1 |
| Mendocino | 10.0% | 12.0% | 10.8% | 13 |
| Napa | 8.0% | 9.9% | 9.0% | 4 |
| Solano | 10.3% | 12.2% | 11.8% | 24 |
| Sonoma | 9.4% | 10.6% | 10.0% | 9 |
| California | 11.0% | 12.2% | 11.9% | – |
| U.S. | 9.1% | 9.5% | 9.3% | – |
Source: California Employment Development Department and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
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