LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County saw a small increase in its unemployment rate in November, while the state rate remained unchanged and the national rate ticked up slightly.

The California Employment Development Department’s report on the jobless rate said the state’s unemployment rate was 5.4% in November, the same rate as October. The November 2023 rate was 4.9%.

Lake County’s jobless rate in November was 6.2%, compared to 6.1% in October and 6% in November 2023.

Nationwide, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said the November unemployment rate was 4.2%. The October rate was 4.1% and November 2023 rate was 3.7%.

The report said California gained 11,100 nonfarm payroll jobs in November, with a year-to-date gain of 167,000 jobs.

The job market expansion reached 55 months in November 2024, with the report also noting that California gained 3,182,400 jobs — averaging 57,862 per month — since April 2020.

EDD records showed that Lake County gained 160 jobs from October to November — growing from 17,380 to 17,540. However, at the same time, the civilian labor force grew from 28,400 to 28,770 individuals, a growth of 370 people.

The report said that five of California's 11 industry sectors gained jobs in November with private education and health services, with a gain of 13,100 jobs, leading the way with significant gains in healthcare-related industry groups. Lake County showed a 2.9% growth rate in that industry.

The EDD said that for the ninth consecutive month, trade, transportation and utilities showed an increase of 5,700 jobs, with many of its gains happening in retail, and couriers and messengers, as holiday hiring ramped up and activity increased at California ports. In Lake County, that industry grew by 2.1%.

Statewide, financial activities showed the largest month-over reduction with a loss of 4,400 jobs due to weakness in the real estate and rental and leasing subsector as well as in some financial investment-related fields. Lake County, however, showed a 6.1% growth in this sector in November.

Other key industries and their growth or declines statewide and Lake County include the following:

• Professional and business services: 2,600 jobs added; 10% growth in Lake County.
• Information: 2,100 jobs added; no growth in Lake County.
• Mining and logging: 100 jobs; no growth in Lake County.
• Leisure and hospitality: -400 jobs; 1.7% growth in Lake County.
• Manufacturing: -600 jobs; -5.3% decline in Lake County.
• Government: -1000 jobs; 0.2% growth in Lake County.
• Other services: -3,300 jobs; no growth in Lake County.

Lake County’s jobless rate ranked it No. 43 of California’s 58 counties.

Lake’s neighboring county jobless rates and ranks in November were: Colusa, 11.9%, No. 57; Glenn, 5.9%, No. 38; Mendocino, 5.1%, No. 23; Napa, 4.3%, No. 10; Sonoma, 4.1%, No. 8; and Yolo, 5.2%, No. 26.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, and on Bluesky, @erlarson.bsky.social. Find Lake County News on the following platforms: Facebook, @LakeCoNews; X, @LakeCoNews; Threads, @lakeconews, and on Bluesky, @lakeconews.bsky.social.