LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County's unemployment picture showed a minor improvement in February, according to a Friday report.
The California Employment Development Department said that Lake County had an 11.4-percent unemployment rate in February, down from the revised 11.9 percent rate reported in January, and down from the February 2013 estimate of 13.7 percent.
California as a whole showed a slightly improved employment picture in February, with the Employment Development Department noting that the state's unemployment rate was at 8 percent, down from 8.1 percent in January and improved compared to the 9.4-percent rate reported in February 2013.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nationwide unemployment was 6.7 percent in February, up from 6.6 percent in January but down from 7.7 percent in February 2013.
The Friday report said that nonfarm jobs in California totaled 15,350,400 in February, an increase of 58,800 jobs over the month and 336,600 jobs over the year, according to a survey of 58,000 businesses.
A federal survey of 5,500 California households showed an increase in the number of employed people. It estimates the number of Californians holding jobs in February was 17,113,000, an increase of 45,000 from January 2013, and up 234,000 from the employment total in February of last year, the report said.
The number of people unemployed in California was 1,497,000 – down by 9,000 over the month, and down by 245,000 compared with February of last year, the Employment Development Department said.
Marin remained the county with the lowest unemployment, 4.8 percent, while Colusa registered the highest unemployment in February, with 24.2 percent, the report showed.
Lake County rated No. 35 for its 11.4 percent rate. The county's civilian workforce numbered 26,710 people in February, of which 3,050 were unemployed, compared to 26,750 people and 3,200 unemployed in January.
Local industries showing job growth included state government, 7.1 percent; total farm, 4.9 percent; mining, logging and construction, 3 percent; financial activities, 2.6 percent; and professional and business services, 1.7 percent.
Industries showing job loss were retail trade, -0.5 percent; and trade, transportation and utilities, -0.4 percent.
Lake's neighboring counties ranked as follows in February, according to the Employment Development Department: Colusa, No. 58, 24.2 percent; Glenn, No. 41, 12.8 percent; Mendocino, No. 16, 7.9 percent; Napa, No. 5, 6.1 percent; Sonoma, No. 7, 6.2 percent; and Yolo, No. 31, 10.4 percent.
The Employment Development Department reported that there were 539,062 people receiving regular unemployment insurance benefits during the February survey week, compared with 495,273 last month and 487,497 last year.
At the same time, new claims for unemployment insurance were 65,494 in February 2014, compared with 73,040 in January and 41,698 in February of last year, the Friday report said.
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.