After a significant drop in employment earlier this year, things are continuing to improve in Del Norte County.The most recent numbers from the state of California show the unemployment rate in Del Norte County at 8 percent. That is an improvement from the 9 percent unemployment in August but is still significantly down from a year ago. In October 2019, Del Norte County had a 5.3 percent unemployment rate, well below state and national averages.The 8 percent unemployment rate in October was better than the state average of 9 percent but below the national average of 6.6 percent.#placement_573654_0_i{width:100%;max-width:550px;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid573654 = window.pid573654 || rnd;var plc573654 = window.plc573654 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=573654;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid573654+';place='+(plc573654++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');Virtually all aspects of employment showed decreases over the last year, with three exceptions. Educational and health services are up 2.4 percent while state and federal government jobs are about even for the year.The numbers show the impact the COVID-19 virus and government lockdowns have had on private businesses. Outside of healthcare and government jobs, no sector of employment is close to breaking even year to year.Manufacturing shows a 6.7 percent loss of jobs, one of the lowest figures available. Goods producing and mining, lodging and construction are the only other sectors under a 10 percent decrease.The biggest losers in the COVID-19 pandemic, as related to job losses, are professional and business services with a 33.3 percent loss, financial activities with a 29.4 percent decrease and leisure and hospitality with a 20.6 percent loss.In numbers, the county has 360 fewer people in the labor force and 590 fewer people who have jobs.With Del Norte County in the Purple Tier, experts say increased restrictions on private businesses could lead to addition unemployment claims in the near future.Outside of the farm industry, there were 4,050 people employed in private jobs at the end of November and 3,360 in government related jobs. In Del Norte County, many of the government jobs are linked to Pelican Bay State Prison, which is combating an increased number of COVID-19 cases. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });