Unemployment Relatively Low in Marin, but How is Novato Really Doing?

Marin County might have the lowest unemployment rate in the Bay Area at 8.1 percent, as reported Friday, but it sure seems as if Novato has a lot of people out of work. So many talented folks are between jobs, and so many fresh college grads are back home with Mom and Dad as they venture into the Real World.

If you are job hunting, tell us what it’s like out there right now. Tell us about effective ways to market yourself. Tell us how you avoid getting down about being jobless.

If you are an employer, tell us about how many people filled out applications for open positions and how many of those people were overqualified.

If you know somebody who has been looking for a long time, are you doing anything to lift their spirits or help them in tangible ways?

Statewide, unemployment took another jump from 11.8 percent in June to 12 percent in July despite a rise in total hirings since the beginning of 2011, the state's Employment Development Department reported.

The national unemployment rate decreased in July, falling to 9.1 percent. In the Bay Area, Marin was the lowest and Solano County was highest at 12.2 percent. Those receiving unemployment benefits began receiving an EDD Debit Card instead of a check in July to make the process more convenient and secure the payment process, the department said.

The transition, which began July 8, will occur over the next few months and customers will be notified by mail the week they are switched from check to card, according to the department.

If you need to learn how to apply for unemployment benefits, make sure to watch the attached video from the EDD office.

— Bay City News Service. Novato Patch's Brent Ainsworth contributed to this report.