LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County's unemployment rate went up in October while the state's remained flat and nationwide joblessness had a slight decline.
The California Employment Development Department's latest report said Lake County was ranked No. 38 out of 58 counties for its October unemployment rate, which was 6.4 percent, up from a revised 6 percent rate in September, but still improved over the year-ago estimate of 7.3 percent.
California had an unemployment rate of 5.5 percent for October, the fourth month in a row it has registered that rate, according to the report. The state's unemployment rate in October 2015 was 5.9 percent.
The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics said the nationwide unemployment rate was 4.9 percent in October, down from 5 percent in September and 5 percent in October 2015.
Nonfarm jobs in California totaled 16,586,800 in October, an increase of 389,500 jobs, or a 2.4-percent increase, since October 2015, based on a survey of 58,000 California businesses.
The Employment Development Department said California employers added 31,200 nonfarm payroll jobs in October, bringing the state's job gains since the economic expansion began in February 2010 to a total of 2,400,300.
A federal survey of 5,500 California households showed an increase in the number of employed Californians over both the month and year.
It estimated the number of Californians holding jobs in October was 18,369,000, an increase of 91,000 from September, and up 518,000 from the employment total in October of last year, based on the state report.
The number of unemployed Californian’s was 1,069,000 in October – down by 2,000 over the month, and down by 59,000 compared with October of last year, the Employment Development Department said.
In Lake County, the “total farm” category of jobs dropped by 500 positions, or 34.5 percent, from September to October, according to the report.
The “total nonfarm” category grew by 0.1 percent. Subcategories that showed growth included goods producing, 7 percent; total private, 0.7 percent; and private service providing, 0.2 percent. The subcategory of service providing showed a 0.3 percent decline.
Statewide, in October, eight industries gained jobs: leisure and hospitality; educational and health services; jobs, and trade, transportation and utilities; construction; information; financial activities; professional and business services; and other services. Posting losses were mining and logging, manufacturing and government.
Nine of California’s 11 industry sectors added a total of 409,200 jobs since October 2015: educational and health services; professional and business services; trade, transportation and utilities; information; financial activities; leisure and hospitality; other services; and government.
The two remaining sectors that showed job declines were mining and logging, and manufacturing, the state reported.
San Mateo County continued to hold onto the No. 1 spot for lowest unemployment statewide, 3.1 percent, while Imperial County had the highest joblessness statewide with 22 percent.
The Employment Development Department also reported that there were 323,124 people receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the October survey week, compared with 362,253 in September and 334,244 in October of last year.
In October, new claims for Unemployment Insurance were 44,808, compared with 38,277 in September and 46,203 in October of 2015.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.