Solano's jobless matches national average

Article Last Updated: Tuesday, Oct 25, 2005 - 11:11:58 pm PDT

Solano's jobless matches national average

By Christine Cubé

FAIRFIELD - Unemployment in Solano County fell in September over the previous month, according to figures released by the state Employment Development Department.

The county boasted a workforce of 215,200 - 204,400 employed people and 10,800 unemployed. The September jobless rate was 5 percent.

In August, the rate was 5.3 percent.

Solano County's unemployment rate is greater than the state's: California's unemployment rate was 4.8 percent in September. In August, the state reported a rate of 5.1 percent. A year ago, the state's jobless rate hovered at a little more than 6 percent.

Throughout the Vallejo-Fairfield metropolitan statistical area, there were a total of 130,900 jobs in September. That's up 1,500 jobs over August, mostly nonfarm positions in areas such as government and construction.

EDD's survey of employers found nonfarm payroll employment across the state fell by 23,700 jobs last month, for a total of 14,807,700 jobs.

According to a separate survey of households, the number of Californians holding jobs in September reached a record high of 16,999,000. This marks the sixth consecutive month of record-high employment here.

The state recorded a boost of 41,000 jobs over August, and up 468,000 positions from the employment total for the same period a year ago.

Throughout the state, 906,000 people didn't have jobs, a decrease of 27,000 compared with August and down by 164,000 compared with September 2004.

Of the unemployed, 278,400 were laid off, 102,300 left their jobs voluntarily and the remaining were either new entrants or folks returning to the labor market.

Solano County's jobless rate is roughly equal to that of the rest of the country.

The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the jobless rate was 5.1 percent in September. Nationally, the number of unemployed individuals last month was 7.7 million.

Reach Christine Cubé at 427-6934 or ccube@dailyrepublic.net.

Local employment figures for September 2005

Location Labor Force Employment Unemployment Rate

Solano County 204,400 10,800 5 percent

Benicia 16,800 500 3.0 percent

Dixon 8,700 400 3.9 percent

Fairfield 46,500 2,700 5.4 percent

Rio Vista 2,300 100 3.6 percent

Suisun City 14,200 800 5.1 percent

Vacaville 44,600 1,700 3.6 percent

Vallejo 61,000 4,100 6.3 percent

Source: State of California Employment Development Department Labor Market Information Division