Unemployment in Glenn County still ascending

Unemployment in Glenn County was 18 percent of January, nearly four points higher than last year, and the highest it has been in at least six years.

The figure was released by the California Employment Development Department this week, and it is about five points higher than the California unemployment rate of 13.2 percent for January.

Glenn County is dominated by seasonal agricultural jobs, so many workers are unemployed during the winter, county officials said.

However, that normally changes once the spring planting and summer and fall harvests start.

The January 2009 unemployment rate was 14.6 percent.

David Allee, program manager of employment services for the Glenn County Human Resource Agency, said this is the highest rate he has seen in his six years with Glenn County.

But in years past, he is told the rate had been up to 20 percent, he said.

Allee said with agricultural employment, everything is driven by the cycle, so the rate normally drops when agriculture production increases.

But the rain is keeping the ground too wet to go into the fields right now, he said, so some people remain unemployed who could be working if the weather were clearer.

Colusa County had 27.4 percent unemployment in January, the highest in the state, while Lake County's rate was 19.6 percent, Sutter County had 21 percent and Yuba's was 20.4 percent. Butte County had a rate of 15.1 percent.

The rates for all of these counties have gone up each month since September 2009, the state reported.

Unemployed people in Glenn County can visit the HRA's office in Willows for assistance.

Allee said his agency provides a host of services including a daily job tips publication showing most advertised jobs within the county.

It also has computers for public use where people can register for unemployment benefits, or Cal Jobs services.

There are even some job training programs available where those enrolled are taught new employment skills, Allee said.

Cal Works clients also may receive subsidized employment opportunities where state funding pays 100 percent of their salaries while they are in training. State and federal funding pays for this program, he said.

For more information, call 934-6490 or 934-6552. The agency's address is 420 East Laurel St.

Contact Rick Longley at 934-6800 or rlongley@tcnpress.com.