Sonoma County adding jobs

Sonoma County's jobless rate rose to 4.3 percent in June, as high school and college students began looking for work, the state reported Friday.

Still, the county continued to add new jobs, driven by growth in tourism, retail, agriculture, professional services and construction.

There were 3,200 more people working last month than in June 2006, said Tiffany Furrell, a labor analyst with the state Employment Development Department. Six hundred more people were unemployed in June than a year ago.

"To me, it looks pretty good," she said. Most job sectors grew from 2006 and those that didn't remained stable, Furrell said.

The county's jobless rate was 4 percent in May and 4.1 percent a year ago in June.

The building sector added 300 jobs since May, according to the monthly report. The industry is healthy despite a slowdown in new home construction, said Keith Woods, CEO of North Coast Builders Exchange, a Santa Rosa-based trade group with 1,800 members.

"People in every segment of construction are hiring," Woods said. Contractors are keeping busy with commercial jobs, remodeling and public works projects, including new schools, he said.

June employment in agriculture was 300 more than May and 300 above the same month last year.

Tourism gained 400 jobs over 2006 and grew by 200 positions since May.

"Here at the hotel, things are the strongest they've been in a long time," said Percy Brandon, general manager at Vintners Inn in Santa Rosa.

An improving economy and resumption of airline service at Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport have helped, he said.

Horizon Air's daily flights from Seattle to Santa Rosa led to a measurable jump in business, he said. "Our Washington traffic is up 80 percent from last year," Brandon said.

Santa Rosa's Courtyard by Marriott also is seeing increased bookings from the Seattle and Los Angeles flights, especially on weekends, said hotel manager Brad Calkins.

The hotel began adding staff in May to gear up for the summer tourist season, he said.

Manufacturing and retail posted big gains from 2006, each adding 600 jobs over the past year. It reflects overall growth in the economy, said Ben Stone, director of the county's Economic Development Board. "We're seeing job creation across the board," he said.

Jobs in professional and business services are up by 700 from the same period a year ago. "Those jobs tend to pay well," Stone said.

Government employment dipped by 200 jobs between May and June as non-tenured teachers ended their contracts.

June's jobless rate was 5.1 percent in Mendocino County and 7.2 percent in Lake County.

Statewide, unemployment was 5.2 percent, unchanged from May. The state saw few payroll jobs added in June, as the housing slump and layoffs in the subprime lending sector took a toll on employment.

You can reach Staff Writer Steve Hart at 521-5205 or steve.hart@pressdemocrat.com.