LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – California’s unemployment hit a record low in October while low jobless rates were recorded in Lake County, across the North Coast and nationwide.
The California Employment Development Department’s latest report said that California’s unemployment rate fell to 3.9 percent, down from 4 percent in September and 4.1 percent in October 2018.
The report said the October jobless rate is the lowest in a data series going back to the 1970s.
In addition, the number of unemployed Californians is the lowest since 1989 despite large gains in statewide population since then, the report said.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that nationwide unemployment in October rose slightly from a record-low 3.5 percent in September to 3.6 in October. The October 2018 jobless rate nationwide was 3.8 percent.
The unemployment report also shows that Lake County is still enjoying a low jobless rate, coming in at 4.1 percent, its second-lowest rate over the past 29 years of record-keeping.
The number of Californians holding jobs in October was 18,676,800, an increase of 50,000 from September, but down 24,000 from the employment total in October of last year, according to the report.
The newest data showed that unemployed Californians numbered 765,300 in October, a decrease of 9,100 over the month and down by 33,400 compared with October of last year.
Total nonfarm jobs in California’s 11 major industries totaled 17,567,500 in October – a net gain of 23,600 jobs from September that followed a revised gain of 26,700 jobs in September, based on state numbers.
The report also said that total nonfarm jobs increased by 308,000 jobs, a 1.8-percent increase, from October 2018 to October 2019 compared to the U.S. annual gain of 2,093,000 jobs, a 1.4-percent increase.
The Employment Development Department said October’s 23,600 nonfarm payroll gain extended California’s current job expansion to an all-time record of 116 months.
Gains were widespread across a number of industry sectors with education and health services increasing by 6,500 jobs, led by growth in social assistance. Government (5,400) and financial activities (5,300) also showed large increases.
A good start to holiday hiring in retail helped propel a gain in the trade, transportation and utilities sector (4,700), according to the report.
The unemployment rate comes from a federal survey of 5,100 California households.
In related data that figures into the state’s unemployment rate, there were 260,709 people receiving Unemployment Insurance benefits during the survey week in October compared to 281,060 in September and 272,542 people in October 2018, based on the report.
Concurrently, 39,401 people filed new claims in October which was a month-over increase of 4,073 people, the report said.
Lake County records low unemployment rates in 2019
This year, Lake County has seen record low unemployment, based on state numbers.
In May, the county had a 4.2-percent jobless rate, which at that time was the lowest in 29 years, as Lake County News has reported.
Then, in September, the county registered its lowest rate on record – 3.7 percent – thanks to the ongoing harvest.
Historic date shows that Lake County has registered four of its lowest unemployment rates in the past three decades just this year: September, 3.7 percent; October, 4.1 percent; May, 4.2 percent; and August, 4.5 percent.
Accounting for much of this strength in employment numbers is the “total farm” category, which shows a 59.1 percent increase in jobs in October 2019 compared to the previous year.
The “total nonfarm” category is up 4.2 percent, with subcategories showing growth over the year including goods producing, 5.8 percent; total private, 5.5 percent; private service producing, 5.4 percent; and service planning, 4 percent.
State data showed that the civilian labor force in Lake County in October totaled 28,600 people, down from 28,820 in September and up over October 2018, when there were 27,650 people counted.
The unemployed count for October was 1,220 people, compared to 1,110 in September and 1,400 in October 2018, the report said.
Lake County’s October rate ranks it No. 36 of California’s 58 counties.
Neighboring county jobless rates and rankings are Colusa, 7.3 percent, No. 56; Glenn, 4.4 percent, No. 39; Mendocino, 3.1 percent, No. 18; Napa, 2.3 percent, No. 5; Sonoma, 2.3 percent, No. 5; and Yolo, 3.2 percent, No. 19, the 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.
Lake County continues low unemployment trend; state jobless rate drops to record level
- Elizabeth Larson
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