Russ Steele
The unemployment numbers were not very encouraging in the region, with some significant employment declines across multiple sectors, I guess those promised green jobs are still over the horizon.
Nevada County's unemployment rate went up in November, rising to 11.7 percent from a flat 11 percent in October, according the California Employment Development Department. Nevada County's unemployment in November 2009 was 11.1 percent.
The unemployment rate in nearby Counties, where many Nevada County residents commute, was 12.7 percent in El Dorado County, 11.5 percent in Placer County, 12.8 percent in Sacramento County, and 13.3 percent in Yolo County. The October average for this MSA was 12.0 percent, the November average was up to 12.6 percent.
Between October 2010 and November 2010, the total number of jobs located in the counties of El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo decreased by 2,800 to total 808,600 jobs.
• Financial activities led the losses with a decline of 1,300 jobs. Finance and insurance comprised most of the cutback (down 1,200 jobs).
• Construction reflected a normal seasonal decline, giving up 1,300 jobs. The losses were concentrated in specialty trade contractors (down 1,100 jobs), with smaller reductions in construction of buildings (down 100 jobs) and residual construction (down 100 jobs).
• Total farm receded by 1,200 jobs, less than the 1,700 jobs lost on average over the prior 20 years.
• Professional and business services fell 1,200 jobs, in contrast to its average October- November increase of 300 jobs. Losses came in administrative and support and waste management and remediation services (down 700 jobs) and professional, scientific, and technical services (down 600 jobs).
• Trade, transportation, and utilities gained 1,600 jobs, just over one-half of its typical gain of 3,100 jobs. Retail trade gained 1,800 jobs, offset slightly by losses in wholesale trade (down 100 jobs) and transportation, warehousing, and utilities (down 100 jobs).
• Private education and health services added 600 jobs, slightly more than its average gain of 500 jobs for November over the prior 20 years.
I found it interesting that professional and business services fell in the surrounding counties, while that category increased in Nevada County. Professional and business services and government jobs showed modest gains in Nevada County, while Construction, mining and logging, and hospitality sectors suffered significant drops from a year ago. Gas prices are on the rise, I wounder of that had an impact on the drop in the hospitality sector? On the other hand if the Cities, County, State and Nation are struggling financially, why are we seeing modest gaines in government jobs? Just wondering.
