County job growth up in September

Job growth in Sonoma County stabilized in September but remained off the brisk pace set early in the year, the state reported Friday.

The local economy has added 3,200 jobs over the past year, hitting 202,100 jobs last month, the highest number the county has ever seen.

Job gains in construction and manufacturing showed particular strength, especially compared to the rest of the state.

"Right now it seems like Sonoma County's job market is sturdier compared to California as a whole," said Tiffany Furrell, labor market consultant for the state Employment Development Department.

The single largest increase in jobs has been in construction, which added 1,000 local jobs over the past year. Transportation and professional services added 900 and 800 jobs, respectively. Such gains outpaced the 400 job losses in government and 100 jobs lost in the county's hospitality industry.

Though the number of jobs is up overall, the housing slump has slowed the pace of job creation.

In the first three months of the year, the economy was churning out jobs at a 3 percent clip or better. Job creation slowed over the spring and summer to just 1.2 percent in August, but ticked up in September to 1.6 percent, compared to a year ago.

"It sounds like it's pretty steady as she goes," said Ben Stone, executive director of the Sonoma County Economic Development Board.

That may seem odd given the slowdown in housing construction, Stone said. But businesses and governments continue to invest and expand, as evidenced by new buildings going up in the county's business parks and major road improvements such as the Highway 101 expansion, Stone said.

Despite the increase in jobs over the past year, unemployment is higher in Sonoma County. The jobless rate rose to 4.5 percent in September, up from 3.7 percent a year ago. It remained virtually unchanged from August, when unemployment stood at 4.6 percent.

"Stable is a good thing," Furrell said.

Only six counties had lower unemployment in September: Marin, at 3.8 percent; Napa and San Mateo, at 4.0 percent; Orange, at 4.2 percent; and San Francisco and Santa Barbara, at 4.4 percent.

Statewide, the unemployment rate stood at 5.6 percent in September, up from 5.5 percent in August and 4.8 percent a year ago.

In Mendocino County, unemployment rose to 5.0 percent in September, up from 4.3 percent a year ago. The jobless rate stood at 5.2 percent in August. The county has lost 460 jobs over the past year, whittling employment to 33,160.

In Lake County, unemployment rose to 7.0 percent in September, up from 6.0 percent a year ago. The jobless rate stood at 7.1 percent in August. The county has added 390 jobs over the past year, pushing employment to 16,210.

You can reach Staff Writer Kevin McCallum at 521-5207 or kevin.mccallum@pressdemocrat.com.