Placer boasts lowest unemployment numbers in region

The unemployment rate in Placer County was 2.7 percent in December, lower than neighboring El Dorado, Nevada, Sacramento and Yolo counties. The California Employment Development Department released its unemployment numbers for December this week, ranking Placer County 10th among counties with low unemployment in the state. The county's unemployment fell a 10th of a percent, from 2.8 to 2.7 percent. The report showed that 5,100 people were unemployed out of a 187,000-sized workforce. Nevada County, at 2.9 percent, ranked 12th in the state. The employment rate was 3.1 percent in El Dorado County, ranking 15th in the state. Sacramento's rate was 3.2 percent, ranking 18th in the state and Yolo County's unemployment rate was 3.9 percent, ranking 28th. Labor-market analyst Cara Welch said number of jobs in the four-county region – excluding Nevada County – fell 100 positions in December, totaling 1.04 million. Year to date, the region increased a total of 11,900 jobs or 1.2 percent. Education and health services led year-over growth for the region, adding 6,300 jobs. Construction also gained 3,800 jobs since last December. Trades, transportation and utilities had a year-over increase of 1,900 jobs. Three major industries, leisure and hospitality, government and information, reported year-over declines in jobs. These local rates compare with an unadjusted rate of 3.7 percent for California and 3.4 percent for the nation during December.