Sonoma County's jobless rate drops to 11%

<p>Sonoma County unemployment dropped to 11 percent in February, but remains at its highest level in 27 years, state labor analysts said Friday. </p><p>About 28,100 people were looking for work last month, 20 percent more than a year ago. </p><p>In January, the county's jobless rate hit 11.3 percent, its highest mark since 1983. </p><p>With the economy's slow recovery, unemployment probably won't return to single digits before 2011, according to forecasters. “We'll be here for awhile,” said Ben Stone, director of Sonoma County's Economic Development Board. </p><p>Unemployment is a lagging indicator of economic growth, staying high months after the business climate improves. </p><p>Sonoma County gained 100 net jobs in February, with employment rising in agriculture, private education, health care, hospitality and government. There was a drop in construction, retail and business services. </p><p>The slight gain is a hopeful sign, Stone said. “It's moving in the right direction,” he said. “Let's hope it continues.” In contrast, the local economy lost 3,800 net jobs between December and January. </p><p>The county's jobless rate hit double digits last June and has remained above 10 percent each month since — except for September - according to revised data from the state. </p><p>Jobs are down from last year in nearly every category, with the biggest losses in construction, government, retail, business services and manufacturing. </p><p>The jobless rate would be higher without the government's economic stimulus program and the 2010 census, which created hundreds of Sonoma County jobs, Stone said. </p><p>Meanwhile, layoffs are driving more people to Sonoma County Job Link, which provides training and job-search assistance. </p><p>“A lot of highly qualified, professional people are coming through our door,” said Kathy Young, who manages the county program. “They're shocked that they've been laid off.” </p><p>The latest wave includes government employees who've lost their jobs because of budget cuts, she said. </p><p>Clients are finding employment through Job Link, but it's taking longer, Young said. Networking is the best way to land work in a tight job market, she said. </p><p>“It's still about meeting people face-to-face and finding jobs before they're made public,” Young said. </p><p>State and U.S. unemployment held steady in February. California's jobless rate was 12.5 percent last month, unchanged from January. </p><p>The U.S. rate also held firm at 9.7 percent. </p><p>Data show the economy is on a painfully slow path toward job growth, said Steve Levy, director of the Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy. </p><p>“March and April should bring better news, both in the state and in the nation, as we expect small job growth in both areas,” Levy said. “We see signs outside the job market that this slow recovery is happening. There's more trade at the ports, there's more traffic at the airports, there's more tourism.” </p><p>It will take months — and years in some cases — to recover the job losses of the last two years, Levy said. </p><p>Unemployment in California's 58 counties last month ranged from 7.8 percent to 27.6 percent. </p><p>Marin had the state's second-lowest jobless rate in February, 8.4 percent. It was down from 8.9 percent in January. </p><p>Napa reported 10.4 percent last month, down from 11.1 percent in January. </p><p>In Mendocino County, unemployment in February was 12.5 percent, down .2 percent from the prior month.</p><p>Lake County had a 19.3 percent rate, down from 19.6 percent in January.</p>