California Unemployment Inches Up in July — Better Than Last Year, Though

 

California’s unemployment rate increased to 12 percent in July, according to data released August 19 by the California Employment Development Department.

Non-farm jobs increased by 4,500 during the month. Through July, the state has added 116,000 jobs in 2011.

The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 9.1 percent in July.

July’s state unemployment rate is .2 percent higher than June but .4 percent lower than July 2010’s rate of 12.4 percent.

The unemployment rate is calculated using a federal survey of 5,500 California households.

A second survey of 42,000 businesses shows 14,074,700 Californians employed in July – up 4,500 from June. There were 30,400 more Californians working in June than in May.

Compared to July 2010, 189,400 more Californians held jobs last month. That’s a 1.4 percent increase.

The number of people unemployed in California was 2,167,000. That’s 34,000 persons more than in June but 85,000 less compared with July of last year.

Education and health services added 4,200 jobs in July. Government posted the largest decrease, down 5,800 jobs.

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Says California Republican Party Chair Tom Del Beccaro:

“We don’t need unrealistic green job programs or toothless legislative reform. Instead of piling on more job-crushing bills, the Democrats should vacate Sacramento and give California business owners a chance to turn things around.”

(Editor’s Note: Lawmakers recess for the remainder of 2011 September 9.)

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