Sacramento County Unemployment Rates Drop

Sacramento County and statewide unemployment rates continue to drop. 

Regionally, the decline is partially thanks to more seasonal farm jobs and an increase in leisure and hospitality sector jobs, according to figures released by the state Employment Development Department on Friday. 

That translated to the Sacramento County jobless rate declining to 8 percent in May. The county's unemployment rate was 8.3 percent in April.

Fair Oaks, with a jobless rate of 4.3 percent, is far below the county average. Carmichael, also below the county average, had a jobless rate of 6.2 percent.  Folsom boasts the city with the lowest unemployment rate in the county, at 3.6 percent. 

The total number of jobs in Sacramento, Placer, Yolo and El Dorado counties climbed 4,900 jobs to reach 842,500 jobs between April and May: 

• Farm led the month-over expansion with a 1,500-job gain, a normal seasonal increase.
• Professional and business services added 1,400 jobs. The gain in administrative and support and waste services (up 1,500 jobs) more than offset the slight loss in professional, scientific, and technical services (down 100 jobs). 
• Leisure and hospitality recorded the largest April-to-May increase since 1991 with an addition of 700 jobs. 
• Other services was the only sector to report a decrease for the month (down 400 jobs).