JOBLESS RATE STAYS AT 5.8%; LAND RULES COULD SLOW GROWTH, SOME ANALYSTS SAY.Byline: Lisa Mascaro Daily News Staff Writer The Ventura Ventura (vĕnt  `rə), city (1990 pop. 92,575), seat of Ventura co., SW Calif., on the Pacific coast in a farm and oil region; inc. 1866. County labor market labor market A place where labor is exchanged for wages; an LM is defined by geography, education and technical expertise, occupation, licensure or certification requirements, and job experience has been growing at a moderate rate, keeping joblessness in check at 5.8 percent - about the same level as last November November: see month. , officials said Friday. But analysts say job increases in certain sectors - such as construction, which posted the highest growth rate over the year - could slow as the county grapples with political decisions over land use. ``Ventura County's growth seems to just be continuing to perk perk 1 v. perked, perk·ing, perks v.intr. 1. To stick up or jut out: dogs' ears that perk. 2. To carry oneself in a lively and jaunty manner. along. We've really not seen a significant slowdown For articles with similar titles, see Slow Down (disambiguation). A slowdown is an industrial action in which employees perform their duties but seek to reduce productivity or efficiency in their performance of these duties. in any sector,'' said Dee Johnson, a labor analyst for the state Employment Development Department. ``In that sense, we appear to be very stable and holding.'' The county's 5.8 percent unemployment rate reflects layoffs in the farm sector, which was down 3,400 jobs, and increases in the nonfarm industries, which increased by 3,700 jobs. Employment stood at 270,000 jobs in November and the unemployment rate was on par with last month and the same as November 1997, said Johnson. Most of the county's labor sectors grew about 2 percent over the past year, with a 3.8 percent increase overall. The highest rate of growth was in construction, with 600 new jobs or a 7.8 percent increase, followed by the category that includes finance, insurance and real estate with 1,000 new jobs or a 7.4 percent increase. The greatest number of new jobs was found in services, up 4,200 positions, including more retail-trade hiring than last year. The sector also showed a high number of new hires, up 1,400 jobs, which reflects the November holiday season. ``Everything appears to continue to be growing at a nice, moderate growth rate,'' said Johnson. However, Johnson said it is difficult to project future labor growth, pointing out that rising sectors such as construction could change because of the political decisions made over land use and development in the county. ``No one has a crystal ball,'' she said. ``Ventura County has to make some decisions politically on land use which could totally affect that rate of growth. So it's very hard to project ahead.'' The county's unemployment rate was slightly lower than neighboring neigh·bor n. 1. One who lives near or next to another. 2. A person, place, or thing adjacent to or located near another. 3. A fellow human. 4. Used as a form of familiar address. v. Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County, which posted 6.3 percent, and higher than Santa Barbara Santa Barbara (săn'tə bär`brə, –bərə), city (1990 pop. 85,571), seat of Santa Barbara co., S Calif., on the Pacific Ocean; inc. 1850. , which had a 4.2 percent rate. The county's seasonal fluctuations in agriculture often leave Ventura County with a higher unemployment rate than neighboring or more urban areas, officials said. |
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