North Bay Job Market Explodes

The North Bay job market explodes with significant job growth. The number of jobs in the six North Bay counties in June returned to a level not seen in nine years, thanks to steady though recently slowing job growth in the past six years, according to state figures released Friday.

The region had nearly 549,000 total industry jobs last month, according to a Business Journal analysis of a three-month average of total industry jobs estimated by the state Employment Development Department. That’s about the level of employment at the peak in July 2006, amid the slide in local economies with a collapse in the housing market and followed by the global financial crisis in fall 2008.

Marin and Napa counties regained their lost jobs in late spring 2013, and Sonoma County, this past May. Solano County last month was about 1,000 jobs below its fall 2006 peak.

North Bay jobless rates in June remained largely unchanged from May, but were well below levels of this time last year.

 

Sonoma County

The unemployment rate in the Sonoma County was 4.3 percent in June 2015, up from a revised 4.2 percent in May 2015, but well below the state’s year-ago estimate of 5.5 percent.

This compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 6.2 percent for California and 5.5 percent for the nation during the same period.

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

The number of Sonoma County nonfarm jobs for the month was up 800, or 0.4 percent, to 197,000, and up 4,400 at 2.3 percent for the year. Farming employment for the month was up 100 to 7,000 jobs, a change of 1.4 percent, but there was no annual growth.

Leading job-adding industries over the year were service-providing, up 2.1 percent for the year, or 3,400 jobs, to 164,600; construction, up 11.3 percent, or 1,200 jobs, to 11,800; trade, transportation and utilities, which includes retail, up 2.8 percent, or 1,000 jobs, to 37,200; and professional and business services, up 4.9 percent, or 1,000, to 21,400.

The only industry losing jobs in the last 12 months was manufacturing, down 1.0 percent, or 200, to 20,300.

Several sectors remained unchanged over 12 months, including state government at 4,900, local government city at 2,600, special districts plus Indian tribes at 3,300, and mining and logging at 300.

 

Solano County

The unemployment rate in Solano County remained at 5.9 percent in June, and well below the year-ago estimate of 7.3 percent.

Nonfarm job growth for the year was up 3,800 positions, or 3.0 percent, to 132,200. Farming was up 200, or 10.0 percent, to 2,200 jobs.

Job-gaining industries over 12 months were service-providing, up 2.6 percent, or 2,800, to 111,600; goods-producing up 1,000, or 5.1 percent, to 20,600; and retail trade, up 400, or 2.3 percent, to 17,600.

Sectors that lost jobs over the year were trade, transportation and utilities, down 100, to 26,500; state government down 200 to 4,900; and finance and insurance down 100 to 3,400.

 

Marin County

The unemployment rate in the Marin County was 3.4 percent in June, up from a revised 3.3 percent in May, and below the year-ago estimate of 4.2 percent.

Total nonfarm jobs increased by 2,900, or 2.6 percent, to 115,300, and farm jobs remained unchanged at 400.

Job-gaining industries over 12 months were service-providing, up 2,100, or 2.0 percent, to 104,900; goods-producing, up 800, or 8.3 percent, to 10,400; and trade, transportation and utilities, up 600, or 3.3 percent, to 18,900; and leisure and hospitality, up 900, or 5,8 percent, to 16,400.

Job-losing sectors were financial activities, down 100, or 1.4 percent, to 6,900; and local government education, down 200, or 3.5 percent, to 5,500.

 

Napa County

The unemployment rate in Napa County remained at 4.1 percent in June from May but was 1 percentage point below the rate of the previous June.

Nonfarm jobs remained at 71,100 for the month, and up 1,400, or 2.5 percent, for the year to 71,000. Total farm jobs were up 100 from May, but down 300, or 4.9 percent, for the year to 5,800.

Job-gaining industries over 12 months were manufacturing, which includes winemaking, up 1,100, or 8.9 percent, to 13,400; and leisure and hospitality, up 300, or 2.4 percent, to 12,700.

Job-losing industries over 12 months were and educational and health services, down 300, or 3.0 percent, to 9,800; mining, logging and construction down 200, or 5.6 percent, to 3,400; and financial activities, down 100, or 4.3 percent, to 2,200.

All government sectors remained unchanged.

 

Mendocino County

The unemployment rate in Mendocino County remained at 5.1 percent in June, down from 6.4 percent one year ago, and remained at 14th-lowest in the state.

Farm jobs over 12 months were up 20, or 1.2 percent, to 1,710, and nonfarm jobs, increased by 740, or 2.4 percent, to 32,050.

Job-gaining industries were manufacturing, up 130, or 5.3 percent, to 2,590; goods-producing, up 130, or 3.4 percent, to 3,980; education and health services, up 300, or 5.1 percent, to 6,190; and state and local government, up 130, or 1.8 percent, to 7,300.

The only losses for the year were information, down 20, or 7.1 percent, to 260; and construction, down 10, or 1.0 percent, to 1,000.

 

Lake County

The unemployment rate in Lake County remained at 6.8 percent in June, down from 8.3 percent one year ago, ranking 32nd in the state.

Total farm jobs were down 50 from May and 20 over 12 months, to 1,220, a yearly decrease of 1.6 percent. Total nonfarm jobs were up 90 from May and 730 for the year to 15,600, an annual gain of 4.9 percent.

One of the largest gains in employment for the year was service-providing, adding 650 jobs, to 14,740, up 4.6 percent. Also gaining for the year were education and health services, up 260, or 6.0 percent, to 4,570; retail trade, up 110, or 5.2 percnet, to 2,240; and local government, up 250, or 6.8 percent, to 3,950.

Job-losing industries were financial activities, wholesale trade and state government, each down 10 jobs.

 

This article was originally posted by the NorthBay Business Journal.