Rising energy prices and interest rates are slowing Sonoma County’s economic growth, while federal immigration policy and an aging workforce could present additional headwinds, according to the latest quarterly outlook from the county’s Economic Development Collaborative.
The October analysis — produced in collaboration with the Bay Area Council Economic Institute — highlighted Sonoma County’s edge in affordable housing and the importance of its immigrant workforce.
“Many of the economic headwinds we are feeling locally have been driven by national trends, including high fuel prices, sluggish job growth, rising costs for households and businesses, and workforce constraints that could limit future growth,” executive director Ethan Brown said in a statement.
Sonoma County depends on leisure travel and wine country demand, leaving it sensitive to rising gas prices which…
