Big winter storms and the end of the holiday season triggered layoffs in the Sacramento region.
The Sacramento area unemployment rate went from 4.8 percent in December up to 5.3 percent in January. Cara Welch with the state Employment Development Department says two job sectors led losses: construction and retail.
"For construction, it was pretty heavy hit with rain from December to January and so we're seeing that decrease there," says Welch. "And then, of course, with retail trade and those jobs for the holidays."
Construction lost 3,600 jobs month over month and retail cut 4,800 jobs. Normal seasonal declines were also seen in trade, transportation and utilities.
Only three industries saw month-over-month gains: government, manufacturing and other services.
January's jobless rate of 5.3 percent is down from a year ago, when it was 5.6 percent.
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