California Business Minute™

The California Workforce Association, CWA is a non profit
organization that formulates public policy strategies and
builds local capacity to address critical workforce issues.

CWA works to promote, enhance and serve the interest of local workforce development.

For further information, contact us  www.calworkforce.org or at 916 325-1610

Hi, I am Tim Johnson and welcome to the California Business Minute.

The state Employment Development Department released employment figures for August. 
Unemployment increased to 7.7 percent up from 7.3 percent from July.  California’s estimated
unemployment rate was 5.5 percent in August 2007.

The number of people unemployed in the state was 1,417,000 up by 61,000 over the month
and also up by 413,000 from August 2007.

This is the fifth straight month of increases and the highest unemployment rate in 12 years.
California now is tied for third highest unemployment in the nation with Mississippi and behind
Michigan at 8.9 percent and Rhode Island at 8.5 percent.

Only three industry segments saw increases information, health services and leisure and
hospitality added jobs over the month.

Six industry divisions (natural resources and mining; professional and business services;
educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; other services and government)
posted job gains over the year.

Seven counties had unemployment rates equal to or lower than the increasing U.S. average
of 6.1 percent in August up from 4 in July.  These included; Marin, Napa, Orange, San Francisco,
San Mateo, Santa Barbara and Sonoma. However on the opposite side of the unemployment
picture, 10 counties have double digit unemployment include; Alpine, Glenn, Imperial, Merced,
San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Sutter, Trinity, Tulare and Yuba.  This number is down from 13 counties
 from July.

Marin had the lowest unemployment rates at 4.9. Imperial County had the highest at 24.7 percent.

I am Tim Johnson and this has been the California Business Minute.

For further information see www.edd.ca.gov and www.beaconecon.com  go to products for drilldown