Seasonal cutbacks across industries sent the unemployment rate in the county back above 9% in January as more job seekers entered the market.
The county lost 21,300 jobs in January from December, pushing the unemployment rate to 9.2%, up from 9% in December and below 10% a year ago, according to the state Employment Development Department.
The county’s employment stands at 1.34 million nonfarm workers.
Some job losses were expected following a hiring push before and during the holiday shopping season.
Trade, transportation and utilities reported the largest monthly drop, shedding 7,700 jobs. Retail accounted for 85% the reduction, down 6,600 jobs.
Government employment fell by 3,600 jobs. Local government educational services accounted for most of the loss, down 3,100 jobs, due in part to semester breaks.
Leisure and hospitality declined by 3,500 jobs. Half of those losses were in the hotel and restaurant sectors.
Education and health services lost 1,900 jobs as educational services shed 1,200 jobs, or 60% of the total.
Employers here in January added 12,600 jobs from a year earlier, about a 1% gain. That marked the sixth month of consecutive yearly gains.
Professional and business services posted the largest yearly growth, adding 6,000 jobs. Nearly half of those positions were in administrative and support services.
Leisure and hospitality increased by 5,900 jobs compared to a year ago with hotels, restaurants and bars accounting for nearly all of the growth.
Trade, transportation and utilities reported the largest decline of 2,100 jobs. Retail trade led the decline, down 2,700 jobs. That was slightly offset by gains in wholesale trade, up 400 jobs, and transportation, warehousing and utilities, up 200 jobs.