In a sign the region's job market is improving, Sonoma County unemployment was 9.2 percent in January, down sharply from a year ago, the state reported Friday.
"We're seeing job growth and unemployment declines throughout the Bay Area," said Ruth Kavanagh, labor consultant for the state Employment Development Department.
The county's jobless rate - down from 10.6 percent a year ago - was the lowest recorded in January since 2009.
Sonoma County has gained 400 non-farm jobs over the past year, dulling the seasonal spike in unemployment that occurs every January.
Unemployment rose only modestly from December, when the jobless rate was a revised 9 percent. The local economy lost 200 retail jobs in January as stores cut staff after the holidays. Manufacturing, construction and hospitality also shed positions between December and January.
Still, most sectors have gained employment over the past year, led by business and professional services with 600 jobs. Manufacturing, health care, government and hospitality also added positions.
The county's tourism sector is a bright spot, with businesses filling jobs for the upcoming travel season, according to Karen Fies, who heads Sonoma County's Job Link program.
"They need employees. They're eager to hire," she said.
Job Link is hosting a job fair for hospitality employers and job seekers on April 4 in Santa Rosa. More than a dozen local hotels, restaurants and attractions have signed up, and all have job openings, she said.
They include Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, Vintners Inn, Doubletree Hotel, Hyatt Vineyard Creek, Fountaingrove Golf and Athletic Club, Worldmark Windsor, Pure Luxury Limo, Bear Republic Brewing, Mr. Hof Brau, RendezVous Bistro and Flipside. The free event is noon to 4 p.m at Job Link's office at 2227 Capricorn Way, Suite 100.
About 58 percent of Sonoma County's business leaders say they plan to add employees this year, according to a survey by the county's Economic Development Board. January's job report shows unemployment is headed downward, said Ben Stone, the board's director.
"This is what recovery looks like," he said.
But the path could be bumpy, Stone said. There may be short-term spikes in the jobless rate, as workers who dropped out of the labor market jump back in, he said.
California's unemployment fell to 10.9 percent in January, compared to 11.2 percent in December. Nearly 576,000 Californians were receiving regular unemployment benefits in January, down from almost 604,000 last year. But 640,000 people have run out of payments, up to the 99-week maximum.
In Sonoma County, 12,361 jobless residents were getting benefits in November, the most recent month for which data were available. More than 3,000 have exhausted all benefits.
Unemployment rose slightly in other North Bay counties between December and January. Marin County had California's lowest unemployment, at 6.6 percent.
Napa reported 9.2 percent, and Mendocino was at 10.7 percent.
Lake reported 16.5 percent.
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