North Bay Business Journal

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Employment in durable goods production such as electronics and nondurable goods such as wine and food in Sonoma, Solano, Napa, Marin, Mendocino and Lake counties has been climbing, according to an analysis of the latest state job figures.

Year-over-year job growth in the industry has been positive for 15 of 17 months through April, adding 1,577 net jobs in 2011.

Net hiring in the first four months of 2012 is 1,100 jobs ahead of a year before. But as jobs come back, companies are struggling to find talent.

The manufacturing employment chart includes the latest industry figures for Marin County, available only through 2010. Figures for 2011 and the first four months of 2012 were estimated based on virtually no change in those job levels in 2009 and 2010.

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