Unemployment in California has jumped from 11.6% in June to a post World War II high of 11.9%. In the entire United States, only three states -- Michigan (15%), Rhode Island (12.7%) and Nevada (12.5%) - have higher unemployment rates. These numbers are far above the national unemployment rate of 9.4%.
Minorities in California have been hit particularly hard. While the white unemployment rate is 9.5%, Latino unemployment is at 12.7% and Black unemployment is at 14.2%.
The Inland Empire (the San Bernardino - Ontario - Riverside metro region) has simply been devastated and is coping with a 14.3% unemployment rate.
So while the unemployment rate has fallen in 17 states, the Golden State is still in a downdraft. Indeed, 26 states had increases in their unemployment rates in July.
The national unemployment rate is up 3.6% year over year.
Disclosure: Author lives in Northern California.
