State Unemployment Rate Dips Slightly
SACRAMENTO (AP) -- California's unemployment rate dipped slightly to 11.9 percent in September but has not moved significantly from where it has been through most of the recession.
The state Employment Development Department reported Friday that California added 11,800 nonfarm jobs, led by construction, professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality.
The September number was down from August's jobless rate of 12.1 percent and lower than during the same month a year ago, when the unemployment rate stood at 12.5 percent.
The Sacramento metropolitan area (Sacramento, El Dorado, Placer and Yolo counties) also dropped slightly from 11.9 to 11.5 percent.
A survey of businesses showed nonfarm jobs in the state totaled 14.1 million in September. California reported 2.1 million people without jobs, roughly the same as the previous month month.
California has the second highest unemployment rate in the nation, behind Nevada's 13.4 percent. The national rate is 9.1 percent.
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