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
October.  Unemployment increased substantially 8.2 percent up from 7.7 in September.  
California’s estimated unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in October 2007.

The number of people unemployed in the state was 1,526,000 up by nearly 100,000 over
the month revised numbers and also up by 500,000 from October 2007.

Four industry segments saw increases, mining and natural resources, educational and
health services, leisure and hospitality and government added jobs over the month. And
of interest, the same four segments (natural resources and mining; educational and health
services; leisure and hospitality; and government) posted job gains over the year.

Nine counties had unemployment rates equal to or lower than the increasing U.S. average
of 6.5 percent in September up from 7 in August.  These included; Marin, Napa, Orange,
San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz and Sonoma, one
more than from September.  However on the opposite side of the unemployment picture, 15
counties have double digit unemployment include; Alpine, Colusa, Fresno, Imperial, Kings,
Lake, Merced, Riverside, San Joaquin, Shasta, Stanislaus, Sutter, Trinity, Tulare and Yuba. 
This number was up from ten in September.

Marin had the lowest unemployment rates at 4.9 and Imperial County had the highest at
27.6 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