The California Employment Development Department on Friday released unemployment figures for December, revealing month-over-month variances of higher and lower rates within the North Bay’s six-county region. California’s rate dropped from 5.6% in November to 5.5% in December.
Napa and Lake counties reported higher month-over-month rates in December, at 4.3% and 7.7% respectively. The North Bay’s four other counties saw a drop in unemployment rates last month. Marin County’s rate was lowest, at 4%, followed by 4.2% in Sonoma County. Solano County’s unemployment rate was 5.2% and Mendocino County’s rate was 5.7%, according to the EDD.
Statewide in December and for the 47th consecutive month, the private education and health services sector showed the most job gains “as California’s population continues to age,” the EDD reported. The industry saw job gains in hospitals and social assistance…