California’s Unemployment Rate Remains at 12.4 Percent

SACRAMENTO – California’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 12.4 percent in September, and nonfarm payroll jobs decreased by 63,600 during the month, according to data released October 21 by the California Employment Development Department from two separate survey.

The U.S. unemployment rate also was unchanged in September at 9.6 percent. In August, the state’s nonfarm payroll jobs were revised upwards 44,200 for a total gain of 10,700 jobs, with the unemployment rate at 12.4 percent. In September 2009, the unemployment rate was 12.1 percent.

The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,500 California households. Non-farm jobs in California totaled 13,808,500 in September, a decrease of 63,600 over the month, according to a survey of businesses that is larger and less variable statistically. This followed a gain of 10,700 jobs  in August.

This survey of 42,000 California businesses measures jobs in the economy. The year-over-year change — September 2009 to September 2010 — shows a decrease of 43,700 jobs, down 0.3 percent.

The federal survey of households, done with a smaller sample than the survey of employers, shows an increase in the number of employed people during the month.

It estimates the number of Californians holding jobs in September was 15,975,000, an increase of 7,000 from August. But down 11,000 from the employment total in September of last year.

The number of people unemployed in California was 2,270,000 – up by 10,000 over the month, and up by 69,000 compared with September of last year.

(Editor’s Note: Usually, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issues a statement on the unemployment level. This month, he didn’t. Here’s the complete report from the Employment Development Department.)

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