Unemployment Drops Locally

Unemployment Drops Locally
By Amanda Janis/Business Writer

Vacaville's unemployment rate was 3.3 percent for December, down from 3.7 in November and 3.8 in October, according to preliminary data released by the state's Employment Development Department.

Solano County's unemployment rate has also slightly declined, dropping by .6 percent. Preliminary figures show it was 4.6 percent in December, down from a revised 5.2 percent for both November and October.

With regards to the December figures for the number of jobs in Solano County - which have declined .4 percent from November, for a total 130,000 jobs - EDD spokeswoman Cynthia Solorio said there were no real surprises.

"Preliminary numbers indicate most of the losses were due to seasonality," Solorio said. "The farm industry lost 200 jobs, the construction industry lost 400 jobs - probably due to the weather - and local government education lost 200 jobs, probably due to the winter recess.

"The year-over job gains, however, in Solano County were pretty healthy," Solorio said. The number of jobs increased by 1.7 percent from Dec. 2004 to Dec. 2005.

A total of 2,200 job were added, with additions occurring in most of the major industries, she explained. The only industries that showed zero growth from Dec. 2004 to Dec. 2005 were the farm and financial activities sectors.

"One of the areas that lost jobs over the year was the leisure and hospitality section," Solorio said, "and that was primarily in food services." The sector lost 300 jobs.

Amanda Janis can be reached atbusiness@thereporter.com.