North Bay joblessness, hiring rise in November

Though jobless rates in Sonoma, Solano, Marin, Napa, Mendocino and Lake counties rose slightly in November, according to the latest state figures, local staffing experts are seeing more longer-term employment opportunities.

Despite the rise, manufacturing, construction and hospitality overall were strong growth sectors in the six-county region over the year, according to monthly figures from the state Employment Development Department released Dec. 18.

Employment analysts are watching a possible trend in employers’ hiring out-of-state when a position does not need to be physically in a California office, but they see definite growth in temporary employment.

“We’ve seen a steady demand for contingent workforce in the information and technology industry,”said Rose Healy, director of client relations at Kavaliro employment agency in Petaluma.

In addition, there is an increased demand in full-time hires, as employers are feeling more confident that the economy will continue to rise.

Yet, the end of the year may see a decrease in new demand because of the holidays, and hiring managers taking holiday vacations, Healy said. Such managers told her the trend upwards in employment is expected to steadily continue in 2016.

Sonoma County

The unemployment rate in the Sonoma County was 4.2 percent in November 2015, up from a revised 4.1 percent in October 2015, and below the year-ago estimate of 5.3 percent.

This compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 5.7 percent for California and 4.8 percent for the nation during the same period.

The county tied with Orange for the fifth-lowest jobless rate in the state followed by Santa Clara, San Francisco, Marin and San Mateo counties.

The number of Sonoma County nonfarm jobs for the month was up 1,200, or 0.6 percent, to 200,200 and up 5,100 at 2.6 percent for the year. Farming employment for the month was down 2,200 to 5,300 jobs at 29.3 percent, and up 400 for the year, at 8.2 percent.

Leading job-adding industries over the year were construction, up 1,500 jobs, or 13.0 percent, to 12,300; education and health services, up 1,400 jobs, or 4.3 percent, to 33,700;; government up 1,000 jobs, or 3.1 percent, to 32,900; and professional and business services up 1,600, or 7.8 percent, to 22,100.

Job losing industries in the last 12 months was manufacturing, down 1,200 jobs, or 5.9 percent, to 19,300, and leisrue and hospitality down 500 jobs, or 2.0 percent, to 24,200

Sectors that remained unchanged over 12 months were mining and logging at 300; and special districts plus Indian tribes at 3,300.

Solano County

The unemployment rate in Solano County was 5.6 percent in November 2015, unchanged from a revised 5.6 percent in October 2015, and below the year-ago estimate of 6.9 percent.

Nonfarm job growth for the year was up 4,700 positions, or 3.6 percent, to 134,700. Farming was down 500, or 20,0 percent, to 2,000 jobs.

Job-gaining industries over 12 months were construction, up 1,200 jobs, or 14.0 percent, to 9,800; trade, transportation and utilities up 900 jobs, or 3.3 percent, to 28,300; leisure and hospitality up 6.5 percent, or 1,000 jobs, to 16,300; and manufacturing up 5.5 percent, or 600 jobs, to 11,600.

The only sectors that lost jobs over the year were farm and county government down 100 to 3,100.

Marin County

The unemployment rate in the San Rafael MD was 3.3 percent in November 2015, unchanged from a revised 3.3 percent in October 2015, and below the year-ago estimate of 4.1 percent.

Total nonfarm jobs for the year increased by 4,500, or 4.0 percent, to 118,100, and farm jobs remained unchanged at 400.

Job-gaining industries over 12 months were professional and business services, up 1,500, or 8.2 percent, to 19,800; trade, transportation and utilities, up 800, or 4.1 percent, to 20,200; and educational and health services up 1,000, or 4.9 percent, to 21,400.

Job-losing sectors were local government, down 200, to 12,300; and local government education down 300 to 5,300.

Napa County

The unemployment rate in Napa County was 4.8 percent in November 2015, up from a revised 4.2 percent in October 2015, and below the year-ago estimate of 5.7 percent. The county ranked 11 in the state compared to fifth in October.

Nonfarm jobs were down 1,500 at 72,000 for the month, and up 1,000, or 1.4 percent, for the year. Total farm jobs were down 2,400 for the month at 3,500, and up 100 for the year at 2.9 percent.

Job-gaining industries over 12 months were leisure and hospitality, up 700, or 5.8 percent, to 12,800; manufacturing, which includes winemaking, up 300, or 2.4 percent, to 13,000; and trade, transportation and utilities up 100, at 1.0 percent, to 10,500.

The only job-losing industries over 12 months were mining, logging and construction down 300, or 7.9 percent, to 3,500, and professional and business services down 100, or 1.4 percent, to 6,800.

Financial activities and education and health services remained unchanged.

Mendocino County

Mendocino’s preliminary November unemployment rate is 5.4 percent, a rise of 0.4 percentage points from the revised October rate 5.0 percent.

Total Mendocino industry employment fell 850 jobs from October to November. The county is up 600 jobs for the year-over, with eight industry sectors gaining and four declining.

Farm jobs over 12 months fell by 70, or 4.9 percent at 1,490, and nonfarm jobs increased by 540, or 1.7 percent, to 31,680.

Job-gaining industries were education and health services, up 240, or 3.9 percent, to 6,370; government, up 150, or 2.1 percent, to 7,260; leisure and hospitality, up 70, or 1.7 percent, to 4,310.

Losses for the year were professional and business services down 30, or 1.9 percent, to 1,560, and financial activities down 30, or 2.8 percent, to 1,030.

Lake County

The unemployment rate in the Lake County was 7.1 percent in November 2015, up from 6.9 percent in October 2015, and below the year-ago estimate of 8.6 percent.

Total farm jobs were down 420 from October and up 20 over 12 months, to 720, a yearly increase of 2.9 percent. Total nonfarm jobs were down 10 from October and up 480 for the year to 15,690, an annual gain of 3.2 percent.

One of the largest gains in employment for the year was service-providing, adding 460 jobs, to 14,830 up 3.2 percent. Also gaining for the year were education and health services, up 170, or 3.7 percent, to 4,750; trade transportation and utilities, up 130, or 4.5 percent, to 3,030; and retail trade, up 110, or 5.0 percent, to 2,310.

The only job-losing industries over the year was financial activities and state government, both down 10.