Unemployment numbers drop in Yuba-Sutter area

Unemployment in the Yuba-Sutter metropolitan statistical area dropped by more than 10 percent between December 2010 and last month, according to figures from the state Employment Development Department.

Under preliminary figures, the unemployment rate was 18.1 percent for the region last month, compared to 20.5 percent a year earlier.

On a month-to-month basis, though the rate was higher than it was in previous months, when it was 16.8 percent in November and 16.6 percent in October. Because December’s number was not seasonally adjusted, and because much of the job losses between November and December appear to be in agriculture, the final number for December may not reflect as large a growth in unemployment.

According to EDD statistics, the job growth year-over-year in Yuba-Sutter was in total farm jobs, manufacturing in non-durable goods, information, finance & insurance and local government jobs.

The largest year-over-year job losses were in civilian federal government jobs, which locally are largely at Beale Air Force Base. That sector had a 14.3 percent loss from December 2010, from 1,400 to 1,200 last month.

CONTACT Ben van der Meer at bvandermeer@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4786. Find him on Facebook at /ADbvandermeer or on Twitter at @ADbvandermeer.