Jobless rate shows little change in December

Increases a tenth to 13.2 percent

Del Norte County’s preliminary December unemployment rate is 13.2 percent, up 0.1 percent from November, according to the state Employment Development Department.

The comparable (not seasonally adjusted) California rate was 10.9 percent. The comparable U.S. rate was 8.3 percent.

Despite the December rate increase, Del Norte’s ranking improved from 33rd to 32nd (from the top) among the 58 counties statewide. Some surrounding county rates include Siskiyou (18.3 percent), Shasta (13.4 percent), Trinity (17.8 percent), and Humboldt (10.6 percent). Marin County (6.5 percent) had the lowest rate, and Imperial remained highest (26.8 percent).

Total Del Norte industry employment declined 50 jobs from November to December and 130 jobs over the year. Five industry sectors gained jobs or were unchanged over the year while six declined. Government cutbacks accounted for almost half of the year-over job decline.

Year-over job growth occurred in:

• Financial Activities (plus 10)

• Professional and business services (plus 10)

Industries with no change over the year included manufacturing and information.

Year-over job loss occurred in:

• Farming (minus 10)

• Mining, logging and construction (minus 20)

• Trade, transportation and utilities (minus 30)

• Private educational and health services (minus 10)

• Leisure and hospitality (minus 30)

• Government (minus 60)