Employment figures are trending upward across the North Bay as jobless rates dipped in February following a brief January spike.
According to the North Bay Business Journal, while California’s overall unemployment held steady at 5.4%, local counties saw across-the-board improvements, led by Marin at a regional low of 4.1%. Sonoma and Napa counties followed closely behind, reporting rates of 4.4% and 4.6% respectively as hiring picked up in the government and professional sectors.
Even in counties with higher unemployment, such as Lake and Mendocino, officials noted a positive month-over-month decline in residents seeking work. The state Employment Development Department reports that while private education and hospitality saw some statewide losses, local gains in construction and manufacturing helped stabilize the regional economy.
This cooling of the January surge suggests a resilient start to the spring hiring season for North Bay workers.
