California’s jobless rate nudged 0.1% higher in the first month of the year, despite adding 96,700 non-farm payroll jobs in January.
The statewide unemployment rate in January was 4.2%, according to data released this month by the California Employment Development Department. Despite the slight increase, the rate is a full percentage point lower than a year ago this time when it was 5.2%.
EDD officials chalked the increase up to the state reaching its full jobs recovery from the pandemic earlier than expected—in June 2022 rather than October 2022—and now the employment rate is settling into more marginal ups and downs. Also affecting the numbers were a decrease in 2,400 jobs in the agriculture industry, bringing those statewide totals down to 434,400 for the month.
Sonoma County’s unemployment rate is at 3.6%, out of a labor force of 248,600; Napa County is at 3.9% out of 70,700 workers.
Marin County’s rate is among the lowest in the North Bay at 3.1%, with a labor force of 130,800.
The industries that saw the biggest month-over employment additions across the state were in government (46,000), hospitality and leisure (20,800), trade/transportation/utilities (19,900), education and health (11,000) and business services (9,500).
The full report can be viewed at edd.ca.gov.