CALIFORNIA BUSINESS MINUTE
Employment
03-24-08
Hi, I am Tim Johnson and welcome to the California Business Minute.
The state Employment Development Department released employment figures for February.
Unemployment declined to 5.7 percent from the previous month of 5.9 percent. Californias
estimated unemployment rate was 5.0 percent from February 2007.
Californias unemployment rate began to rise in October 2007; it remained unchanged in November
and rose again in December leveling off again in January and now has declined.
Eight out of the 11 employment sectors saw increases with construction, manufacturing and
financial services posted losses over the year, while trade, transportation and utilities, specifically
retail saw the largest declines.
Again five counties had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. average of 4.7 percent in
February; Marin, Mono, Orange, San Francisco, and San Mateo, down from 8 counties in
December. However on the opposite side of the unemployment picture 19 counties have double
digit unemployment, down from 21 in February but up from 13 counties for December. Those
that have double digit unemployment; Colusa, Fresno, Glenn, Imperial, Kings, Lassen, Merced,
Modoc, Monterrey, Plumas, San Benito, San Joaquin, Sierra, Siskiyou, Stanislaus, Sutter,
Trinity, Tulare and Yuba. Lake and Shasta Counties fell just below 10 percent and San Joaquin
crept to 9.9 percent.Marin and San Mateo counties had the lowest unemployment rates at 3.9
percent. Colusa County had the highest at 18.9 percent, down form 19.6 in January.
I am Tim Johnson and this has been the California Business Minute.
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