Sonoma County unemployment rate reaches 4.1 percent in August

Sonoma County’s unemployment rate reached 4.1 percent in August, a decrease from a revised 4.4 percent in July, according to data released Friday by the state Employment Development Department.

The jobless rate remains below the level from a year ago of 4.4 percent for August 2015. Sonoma County’s rate also is much lower than California’s unadjusted unemployment rate of 5.6 percent for August and the national rate of 5.0 percent.

“It’s all good news,” said Ben Stone, executive director of the Sonoma County Economic Development Board.

The county’s level is the fifth lowest in the state and tied with Napa County. Mendocino County was at 5.0 percent, Lake County at 6.3 percent and Marin County was at 3.5 percent, the second lowest in the state.

The jobs report is further indication of a strong local economy buoyed by a bright tourism sector that saw an increase of 300 jobs over last month to an overall total of 32,000, according to analysts. That sector has increased in 900 jobs over the past year.

There also is a great demand for construction jobs as the sector has rebounded in the aftermath of the recession. In fact, that sector has aggressively recruited farmworkers with lures of better pay and working conditions, according to vineyard managers. Construction jobs remained level at 12,000 for the county in August.

Stone said he has heard of such job raiding by employers in other areas, such as financial services, where experienced banking professionals can easily advance in a tight labor market.

The finance sector remained steady in August at 8,300 jobs for Sonoma County.

“Banks really need people. I will see that just continue,” Stone said.

Overall, Sonoma County gained 300 jobs last month, pushing payrolls to 209,200 in August, according to the department.

No individual sector suffered much significant loss from July to August. The professional and business services field saw a decrease of 500 jobs, though it represented a fraction of its overall 22,700 total.

The highest unemployment rates in the county in August were registered in Forestville at 6.8 percent, Guerneville at 6.3 percent and Cotati at 5.4 percent. Windsor, Sebastopol, Healdsburg and Cloverdale all were at 3.5 percent. Santa Rosa was at 4.5 percent