Unemployment dips in Solano County to 5.5% vs. 6.8% estimate a year ago

Article Launched: 04/20/2005 08:10:33 AM

Unemployment dips in Solano

By Barbara Smith/Business Writer

The unemployment rate in Solano County was at 5.5 percent in March, down from 6 percent in February and below the year-ago estimate of 6.8 percent, according to a state report.

The Employment Development Department reported the total number of people employed in the county in March was 126,600 compared to 125,400 in February - a difference of 1,200 new jobs. Of those, 200 were farm jobs and 1,000 nonfarm jobs.

Top industries creating or filling positions in March included leisure and hospitality businesses filling 400 new jobs, construction with 200 jobs, and government with 200 jobs.

Preliminary data provided by the state shows the labor force in Solano County is at 209,000, with 197,400 employed and 11,600 unemployed. Vallejo has the highest unemployment rate of 6.9 percent, but the city has the largest labor force in the county - 63,300. Fairfield follows with a labor force of 47,800 and an unemployment rate of 6 percent. Vacaville's labor force is 44,900 with an unemployment rate of 4 percent.

The report also noted that the state is experiencing its lowest unemployment rate since July 2001, when the rate was also 5.4 percent. A year ago, California's unemployment rate was at 6.4 percent.

Barbara Smith can be reached atbusiness@thereporter.com.