California Unemployment Rate at Post WWII High

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.

Comments

[Dave Wrixon:]

Unemployment figures are likely highest were the Government has put in less effort fudging the figures. This is particularly true of some of the smaller states that have a lower impact on the national statistics. Who give a damn about Nevada and Rhode Island. Of course that is not really the case with California which is probably a lot worse than the statistics actually tell us.

Aug 23 08:37 AM

[T.Stamps:]

The government is all about fudging the numbers. At this time,
through the state controlled media outlets, this administration
is trying to say we've hit bottom. Believe them or not at your
own risk. But true unemployment is at 16% plus. This
administration doesn't care about the economy it's all about
advancing its ideology.

Aug 23 10:47 AM

[Moon Kil Woong:]

California is by far one of the most mismanaged states in the union, thus it gets a disproportionate amount of the pain. Prop 13 although popular, has been artifically boosting housing prices for decades and largly made houses unaffordable for the vast majority of young people regardless of their income, especially in the more affluent N. California whic is ironically more liberal. Go figure.

Maybe instead of electing a movie star that edits Muscle magazine in the Governor's office they should elect a dog next time. At least that way no one will pass even more ruinous legislation for 4 years. After all the neccesary things in the government are covered under mandatory Constitutional provisions along with most of the ridiculous unneccesary things.

If a State needed a Constitutional Convention it would be California with the longest and most contradictory Constitution in the world. You would thing they would read it before they amend it. But I guess lobbyists aren't paid enough to read the garbage they pass.

Aug 23 08:07 PM