Humboldt County’s unemployment rate has been continuing its steady decline.
According to preliminary data from the state Employment Development Department, the county saw another month-over-month decline in its unemployment rate in April when it dropped to 3.3%. The unemployment rate was 3.7% in March, 4.3% in February and 7.1% a year ago in April 2021.
That tracks closely with the drop in the statewide unemployment rate, which was 8.3% in April 2021 and dropped to 4.9% during the past February, 4.3% in March and 3.8% last month.
Humboldt County had the 21st lowest unemployment rate in the state in April. San Mateo County had the lowest unemployment rate at 1.9% followed by Marin County at 2.1%.
The highest unemployment rates last month were in Imperial County (11.7%) and Colusa County (10.1%).
The largest month-over-month employment gains locally were in state government, excluding education, which saw a 7.1% increase; farming, which saw a 6.7% increase; and state government education, which saw a 5.3% increase.
The industries in the county that saw the largest year-over-year growth in their employment numbers were farming (14.3%), the federal government (14.3%), state government education (11.1%) and wholesale trade (10%).
About 59,400 people were in the labor force last month, which is 43.6% of the county’s total population. That reflects a decline of 1% from the month prior when it was 60,000, and a 2.8% increase from the year prior when it was 57,800.
That number includes people who are self-employed or on strike, as well as unpaid family workers and household domestic workers.
Sonia Waraich can be reached at 707-441-0504.