California’s unemployment rate stuck at 10.7 percent

SACRAMENTO
August 17, 2012 8:37am

California’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 10.7 percent in July, although nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 25,200 during the month for a total gain of 507,200 jobs since the economic recovery began in September 2009, according to data released Friday by the California Employment Development Department from two separate surveys.

The U.S. unemployment rate increased in July to 8.3 percent.

In July 2011, the state’s unemployment rate was 11.9 percent. The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,500 California households.

Nonfarm jobs in California totaled 14,358,600 in July, an increase of 25,200 jobs over the month, according to a survey of businesses that is larger and less variable statistically. The survey of 42,000 California businesses measures jobs in the economy. The year-over-year change (July 2011 to July 2012) shows an increase of 365,100 jobs (up 2.6 percent).

The federal survey of households, done with a smaller sample than the survey of employers, shows a decrease in the number of employed people. It estimates the number of Californians holding jobs in July was 16,444,000, a decrease of 40,000 from June, but up 277,000 from the employment total in July of last year.

The number of people unemployed in California was 1,962,000 – down by 12,000 over the month, and down by 228,000 compared with July of last year.

Here are the JULY 2012 Central Valley unemployment rates, followed by those from June 2012, which are in parentheses. All are estimates:

• Butte County, 12.8 percent; (12.9 percent)

• Fresno County, 14.7 percent; (15.3 percent)

• Kern County, 13.6 percent; (13.9 percent)

• Kings County, 14.5 percent; (15.5 percent)

• Madera County, 14.1 percent; (14.6 percent)

• Merced County, 17.5 percent; (17.8 percent)

• Sacramento County, 11.1 percent; (11.1 percent)

• San Joaquin County, 15.1 percent; (14.9 percent)

• Stanislaus County, 15.7 percent; (15.8 percent)

• Tulare County, 15.8 percent; (15.1 percent)

• Yolo County, 10.5 percent; (10.8 percent)

• Yuba County, 18.2 percent; (17.5 percent)

The state’s highest unemployment rate in JULY was in Imperial County where 29.9 percent of the adult workforce was unemployed.

The lowest JULY jobless rate was 6.7 percent in Marin County.

EDD’s report on payroll employment (wage and salary jobs) in the nonfarm industries of California totaled 14,358,600 in July, a net gain of 25,200 jobs since the June survey. This followed a gain of 45,000 jobs (as revised) in June.

Six categories (financial activities; professional and business services; educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; other services; and government) added jobs over the month, gaining 41,300 jobs. Professional and business services posted the largest increase over the month, adding 15,200 jobs.

Four categories (construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; and information) reported job declines over the month, down 16,100 jobs. Trade, transportation and utilities posted the largest decrease over the month, down 8,000 jobs. One category, mining and logging, was unchanged over the month.

In a year-over-year comparison (July 2011 to July 2012), nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 365,100 jobs (up 2.6 percent).

Ten categories (mining and logging; construction; trade, transportation and utilities; information; financial activities; professional and business services; educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; other services; and government) posted job gains over the year, adding 372,500 jobs. Professional and business services posted the largest gains on both a numerical and percentage basis, adding 115,600 jobs (up 5.4 percent).

One category, manufacturing, posted job declines over the year, down 7,400 jobs (a 0.6 percent decline).

In related data, the EDD reported that there were 518,605 people receiving regular unemployment insurance benefits during the July survey week. This compares with 483,445 last month and 566,380 last year. At the same time, new claims for unemployment insurance were 52,336 in July 2012, compared with 66,296 in June and 57,897 in July of last year.