Business & Tech

Jobless Rate Drops in Petaluma

Unemployment in Sonoma County is at its lowest point in more than two years.

The unemployment plummeted in Sonoma County last month, though the number of employed people did not increase.

The jobless rate in Sonoma County decreased from 7.3 percent in March to 6.5 percent in April. A year ago, the rate was 8.7 percent, according to the state Economic Development Department.

The unemployment rate for the state also fell from 9.4 percent in March to 8.5 in April.

Cities throughout Sonoma County experienced similar dips in their unemployment rate.

In Petaluma, the jobless rate fell to 6 percent. It was 6.7 percent in March.

Nearby, the unemployment rate decreased to 7.5 percent in Healdsburg, 5.3 percent in Sonoma, 6.9 percent in Cotati and 6.4 percent in Rohnert Park

Overall, no new jobs were added in Sonoma County in April, meaning fewer jobless people were looking for work. The total labor force remained at 178,300, up 5,700 jobs from April of 2012.

Manufacturing in Sonoma County gained 200 jobs in April while the leisure and hospitality industry added 300 jobs and the financial activities sector increased by 100 jobs.

But positions were lost in the trades, transportation and utilities industry, as well as in the professional and business services sector.


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