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 November. 
Unemployment increased to 8.4 percent (seasonally adjusted) up from 8.2 in October.
California’s estimated unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in November 2007.

The number of people unemployed in the state was 1,543,000 up by 41,700 over the month
from October 2008.

Four industry segments saw increases, mining and natural resources, educational and health
services, information and other added jobs over the month.  Four industry segments, natural
resources and mining; educational and health services; information and government posted job
gains over the year.

Eight counties had unemployment rates equal to or lower than the increasing U.S. average of 6.7
percent in October.  These included; Marin, Napa, Orange, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo,
San Mateo, Santa Barbara and Sonoma, one less than from October.  However on the opposite
side of the unemployment picture, 24 counties of the state’s 58 have double digit unemployment
include; Alpine, Calaveras, Colusa, Fresno, Glenn, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Madera,
Merced, Modoc, Plumas, Riverside, San Joaquin, Shasta, Sierra, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama,
Trinity, Tulare and Yuba.  This number was up from 15 in October and ten in September. And in
the near category of double digit are Butte, Lassen, Mariposa, Riverside and Yolo.

Marin had the lowest unemployment rates at 5% and Imperial County had the highest at 23.4 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