Sonoma County's unemployment rate rose in January but shrank from a year ago, indicating the county is continuing its slow recovery from the recession.
The county's jobless rate increased from 5.7 percent in December to 6.2 percent in January. But year-over-year, it decreased from 8.2 percent to 6.2 percent. That's based on data released Friday by the state.
It's the lowest January unemployment rate since 2008, when it was 5.2 percent.
"Not everyone has a job that wants one, but we're making real progress," said Ben Stone, executive director of the county's Economic Development Board.
In 2013, the state reported that 21,100 county residents were looking for work. This January, that number had sunk to 16,100.
Steve Czegus, manager of Sonoma County Job Link, said an increase in the number of people seeking jobs is typical in January as Sonoma County enters a lull between the holiday shopping season and the summer, when construction and tourism increase.
January's increase in unemployment also was driven by more people seeking jobs, said Linda Wong, North Bay labor consultant for the state's Economic Development Department.
"The overall labor force has expanded in Sonoma County, and when more people are looking for work, the unemployment rate does go up," she said.
The number of people in the county work force grew from 258,200 in December to 260,600 in January. Of those, 244,400 had jobs, and increase of 800 from December. The figures include those who are self-employed
More people could be joining the work force because they are encouraged by the improving economy and declining unemployment rates, Stone said.
Sonoma County's numbers mimic larger trends: The state unemployment rate was 8.5 percent in January, up from 8.2 percent in December but down from 10.3 percent last January. The nation's unemployment rate was 7 percent, up from 6.5 percent in December but down from 8.5 percent last January.
While the economy is improving, it is still not back to pre-recession levels, said Rob Eyler, director of Sonoma State University's Center for Regional Economic Analysis.
Still, Sonoma County's unemployment rate remains sixth best in the state. Marin County again led the state with unemployment at 4.7 percent. Unemployment was 6.4 percent in Napa County, 7.8 percent in Mendocino County and 11.8 percent in Lake County.
The industry that saw the biggest January job loss in Sonoma County was trade, transportation and utilities, a grouping that includes retail. It lost 1,200 jobs. There was also a seasonal decline of 500 jobs in state and local government jobs, mainly education. Construction, as well as leisure and hospitality each lost 400 jobs.
The farm sector bucked the trend by adding 400 jobs in January.
The picture was different over the course of the past year. Sonoma County added 8,100 jobs between January 2013 and January 2014, Stone said.
The local government sector led the way, adding 4,000 jobs. About 2,000 of those came from the category that includes Indian tribes, presumably because of Graton Resort & Casino opening in November.
Professional and business services added 1,000 jobs, as did trade, transportation and utilities. Leisure and hospitality, as well as manufacturing, added 600 jobs. .
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