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.

Join us for our Spring Conference, March 19-21 in San Diego
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 November. 
Unemployment remains unchanged from 5.6 percent. A year ago, in November 2006, California’s
estimated unemployment rate was 4.7 percent.

Six categories, natural resources and mining; information; professional and business services;
educational and health services and leisure and hospitality showed gains. Educational and health
services combined showed the largest gain at 5,200 jobs for the month.

Five categories; construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; financial activities;
and government reported job declines this month, down 13,000 jobs. Trade and transportation and
utilities posted the largest decline over the month, down by 4,200 jobs.

Marin County had the lowest unemployment rate at 3.8 steady from October, followed closely by
San Mateo County at 4.0 percent.  Imperial County had the highest at 19.1 percent down from
October’s 20 percent followed by Colusa at 14.4 percent.

Of interest, no change in unemployment was seen in either San Diego County at 4.8 percent due
to the wildfires. However, there was an increase in Los Angeles County at 5.2 percent up from 5.0
percent in October, potentially due to the Writers Strike.

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