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General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: jimmy olsen on March 10, 2010, 09:40:39 PM

Title: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: jimmy olsen on March 10, 2010, 09:40:39 PM
Yikes, damn that's bad.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-cal-jobs11-2010mar11,0,3667613.story

QuoteUnemployment tops 20% in eight California counties
The state's jobless rate of 12.5% in January was its worst on record and fifth-highest in the nation.


By Alana Semuels

March 11, 2010

For many California areas, unemployment rates moved persistently higher in January, indicating that the national economic recovery hasn't yet translated into jobs for the Golden State.

New county-by-county figures released by the state Wednesday showed that in eight counties, more than 1 in 5 people were out of work. Moreover, revised numbers for last year show that fewer people were employed than was previously believed.

The state was one of five, along with Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, that reached their highest unemployment rates since the government began keeping track in 1976, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. California's was 12.5% in January, up from 12.3% in December.

"The unemployment rate will be persistently at this high level for at least a few more months," said Esmael Adibi, an economist at Chapman University in Orange.

The unemployment rate for the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro area reached 15% in January, its highest since 1990, the earliest year for which the state has comparable data available. Unemployment in Orange County reached 10.1%, up from 9.1% in December.

The state's revised data for last year showing elevated unemployment indicate that a recovery could take longer than previously predicted.

"The impact on the labor market was much more severe than what we had estimated," Adibi said.

Most counties were still struggling under the burden of joblessness, especially the eight counties where rates were higher than 20%. Merced County, for instance, had an unemployment rate of 21.7% in January, and Imperial County's rate was 27.3%.

The national unemployment rate in January was 9.7%, and the country experienced a strong 5.75% annualized increase in gross domestic product in last year's final three months.

"The real mystery now is why we aren't getting job growth when the GDP has been positive," said Stephen Levy, director of the Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy.

Budget problems in state and local government are expected to further drag down the state's recovery, Levy said. Even if they don't get pink slips, state employees are earning less money because of furloughs and salary reductions, which reduces consumer spending in the state.

The government sector, which includes public education, lost 4,500 jobs from December to January. Nancy Hack lost her job as a gardener with the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks a year ago, and said that finding work has been a challenge at her age, 54.

"I'm like a fish out of water," she said.

Los Angeles County, with an unemployment rate of 12.5%, was hard hit by declines in the trade, transportation and utilities sector, which shed 21,900 jobs, and professional and business services, which lost 16,300 jobs.

The same sectors were hit in the Inland Empire, losing 7,700 and 3,600 jobs, respectively. Orange County lost 5,700 jobs in trade, transportation and utilities and 3,000 in professional and business services.

San Diego County's unemployment rate reached 11% in January, up from a revised 10.3% in December. The unemployment rate in Ventura County was 11.6% in January, up from a revised 10.9% in December.

California's unemployment rate was the fifth-highest in the nation, behind Michigan, Nevada, Rhode Island and South Carolina.

alana.semuels @latimes.com

Copyright © 2010, The Los Angeles Times
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: Jaron on March 10, 2010, 10:05:50 PM
 :cry:
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: sbr on March 10, 2010, 10:53:40 PM
10.7 in Oregon.  That officially went up another tic (or 10) today.

http://www.qualityinfo.org/olmisj/ArticleReader?itemid=00006934

QuoteOregon's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 10.7 percent in January from the revised December figure of 10.6 percent. The rate has been close to 10.7 percent since October 2009. Oregon's unemployment rate was 9.9 percent in January 2009. In January, 227,579 Oregonians were unemployed, up from 210,754 in January 2009.

Revised figures for the last three months of 2009 show each month posted a drop of between 1,000 and 1,800 jobs. January's employment change was also close to a flat trend, with a slight gain of 1,100. This was the first seasonally adjusted monthly job gain since February 2008, when 900 jobs were added.

In January, most of the major industries performed in line with their typical seasonal patterns. Two major industries posted substantial seasonally adjusted job gains: trade, transportation, and utilities (+1,300) and professional and business services (+1,400). Construction (-1,600 jobs) was the only major industry to post a substantial seasonally adjusted job loss.

Trade, transportation, and utilities cut only 10,900 jobs in January, when a loss of 12,200 was predicted due purely to seasonal factors. January normally sees large job reductions following the buildup of workers for the holiday retail season.

Professional and business services employment has shown no clear upward or downward trend over the past several months. In January, employment dropped only 3,500, when a loss of 4,900 is the normal seasonal pattern.

Construction continued to trend downward rapidly, with a loss of 4,400 jobs during a month when the expected drop due to seasonal factors was 2,800. All published components of construction were negative in January, with specialty trade contractors cutting back the most with a decline of 2,800 jobs.
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: jimmy olsen on March 10, 2010, 10:59:13 PM
You can see all the stats here.
http://www.bls.gov/lau/home.htm

Michigan is 14.3% :bleeding:
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: JacobL on March 10, 2010, 11:49:21 PM
We still have the crown! :lol:

....


oh wait... :cry: :bleeding:
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: Strix on March 11, 2010, 12:10:43 AM
I think NY deserves bonus points. We are about to have our second governor laid-off since the recession began.  :nelson:
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: Jaron on March 11, 2010, 12:13:06 AM
Quote from: Strix on March 11, 2010, 12:10:43 AM
I think NY deserves bonus points. We are about two have our second governor laid-off since the recession began.  :nelson:

:nelson:
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: garbon on March 11, 2010, 12:26:47 AM
two have?
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: Razgovory on March 11, 2010, 12:27:45 AM
Quote from: garbon on March 11, 2010, 12:26:47 AM
two have?

Yeah, you cut something in two and you both get a have.
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: garbon on March 11, 2010, 12:35:40 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on March 11, 2010, 12:27:45 AM
Yeah, you cut something in two and you both get a have.

How do you get a not?
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: derspiess on March 11, 2010, 12:38:28 AM
Never thought I'd see West Virginia on the middle/low end for this stat, but it looks like rural states are less affected by job losses.  North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska are still below 5%.
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: garbon on March 11, 2010, 12:43:41 AM
Quote from: derspiess on March 11, 2010, 12:38:28 AM
Never thought I'd see West Virginia on the middle/low end for this stat, but it looks like rural states are less affected by job losses.  North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska are still below 5%.

It must be hard to lose one's career as a subsistence farmer.
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: HisMajestyBOB on March 11, 2010, 01:28:03 AM
Virginia is, of course, still awesome. :yeah:
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: jimmy olsen on March 11, 2010, 02:59:37 AM
Quote from: HisMajestyBOB on March 11, 2010, 01:28:03 AM
Virginia is, of course, still awesome. :yeah:
Rhode Island is even worse 12.7%!. :weep:
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: Martinus on March 11, 2010, 03:38:38 AM
Quote from: garbon on March 11, 2010, 12:35:40 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on March 11, 2010, 12:27:45 AM
Yeah, you cut something in two and you both get a have.

How do you get a not?

You get a piece of string and tie its ends to each other.
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: Martinus on March 11, 2010, 03:43:10 AM
That's pretty normal by Polish standards, hardly "yikes pretty bad". For example, right now our rate is 12.7%.
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: Syt on March 11, 2010, 03:50:01 AM
Quote from: Martinus on March 11, 2010, 03:43:10 AM
That's pretty normal by Polish standards, hardly "yikes pretty bad". For example, right now our rate is 12.7%.

Yeah, but unemployment rates are rarely comparable internationally, as most states use different rules as to who's included in the statistics and who isn't.
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: Razgovory on March 11, 2010, 03:51:27 AM
Missouri had 9.5%  In 2000 it had only 2.5%  During most of the last decade it was around 5% or so.  I liked the 1990's better. :(
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: The Larch on March 11, 2010, 04:45:25 AM
Quote from: Syt on March 11, 2010, 03:50:01 AM
Quote from: Martinus on March 11, 2010, 03:43:10 AM
That's pretty normal by Polish standards, hardly "yikes pretty bad". For example, right now our rate is 12.7%.

Yeah, but unemployment rates are rarely comparable internationally, as most states use different rules as to who's included in the statistics and who isn't.

Which is a very useful scapegoat, whenever an unheralded spike happens, as everybody says "We just changed our statistical method!".  :P

And of course I need not remind anyone of the dreadful Spanish unemployment numbers.
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: DontSayBanana on March 11, 2010, 07:51:59 AM
I love how they gloss over Merced County's number as "one of the counties over 20%" when it's upwards of 25%
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: Ed Anger on March 11, 2010, 07:56:56 AM
Quote from: derspiess on March 11, 2010, 12:38:28 AM
Never thought I'd see West Virginia on the middle/low end for this stat, but it looks like rural states are less affected by job losses.  North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska are still below 5%.

The Dakotas are booming. And it isn't Ag that is the cause.
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: Josquius on March 11, 2010, 07:58:41 AM
Wow, you know you're in trouble when your unemployment is worse than Sweden.
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: Caliga on March 11, 2010, 08:00:21 AM
Quote from: garbon on March 11, 2010, 12:43:41 AM
Quote from: derspiess on March 11, 2010, 12:38:28 AM
Never thought I'd see West Virginia on the middle/low end for this stat, but it looks like rural states are less affected by job losses.  North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska are still below 5%.

It must be hard to lose one's career as a subsistence farmer.
In the case of (rural) West Virginia, it's probably because alot of people never had any work to begin with, hence no job to lose.
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: Admiral Yi on March 11, 2010, 08:00:57 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on March 11, 2010, 07:56:56 AM
The Dakotas are booming. And it isn't Ag that is the cause.
What is?
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: Ed Anger on March 11, 2010, 08:02:25 AM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on March 11, 2010, 08:00:57 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on March 11, 2010, 07:56:56 AM
The Dakotas are booming. And it isn't Ag that is the cause.
What is?

Oil.
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: Syt on March 11, 2010, 12:02:09 PM
Quote from: The Larch on March 11, 2010, 04:45:25 AM
And of course I need not remind anyone of the dreadful Spanish unemployment numbers.

No one expects accurate Spanish statistics!
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: DisturbedPervert on March 11, 2010, 12:20:15 PM
Quote

Most counties were still struggling under the burden of joblessness, especially the eight counties where rates were higher than 20%. Merced County, for instance, had an unemployment rate of 21.7% in January, and Imperial County's rate was 27.3%.

Once the national ID card comes, Americans will be able to pick strawberries instead of illegal immigrants.
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: sbr on March 11, 2010, 12:21:42 PM
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on March 11, 2010, 12:20:15 PM
Quote

Most counties were still struggling under the burden of joblessness, especially the eight counties where rates were higher than 20%. Merced County, for instance, had an unemployment rate of 21.7% in January, and Imperial County's rate was 27.3%.

Once the national ID card comes, Americans will be able to pick strawberries instead of illegal immigrants.

Once national ID cards come US strawberries will either rot on the vine or cost $10/lb.
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: The Brain on March 11, 2010, 12:24:30 PM
Americans are lazy.
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: garbon on March 11, 2010, 12:29:01 PM
Quote from: The Brain on March 11, 2010, 12:24:30 PM
Americans are lazy.

Pursuit of Happiness, baby! :punk:
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: Martinus on March 11, 2010, 12:33:01 PM
Quote from: sbr on March 11, 2010, 12:21:42 PM
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on March 11, 2010, 12:20:15 PM
Quote

Most counties were still struggling under the burden of joblessness, especially the eight counties where rates were higher than 20%. Merced County, for instance, had an unemployment rate of 21.7% in January, and Imperial County's rate was 27.3%.

Once the national ID card comes, Americans will be able to pick strawberries instead of illegal immigrants.

Most likely the latter. They will be imported from China.:P

Once national ID cards come US strawberries will either rot on the vine or cost $10/lb.
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: sbr on March 11, 2010, 01:29:06 PM
Quote from: Martinus on March 11, 2010, 12:33:01 PM
Quote from: sbr on March 11, 2010, 12:21:42 PM
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on March 11, 2010, 12:20:15 PM
Quote

Most counties were still struggling under the burden of joblessness, especially the eight counties where rates were higher than 20%. Merced County, for instance, had an unemployment rate of 21.7% in January, and Imperial County's rate was 27.3%.

Once the national ID card comes, Americans will be able to pick strawberries instead of illegal immigrants.

Most likely the latter. They will be imported from China.:P

Once national ID cards come US strawberries will either rot on the vine or cost $10/lb.

I think you are doing it wrong.  :huh:
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: Ed Anger on March 11, 2010, 02:08:19 PM
Quote from: sbr on March 11, 2010, 12:21:42 PM
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on March 11, 2010, 12:20:15 PM
Quote

Most counties were still struggling under the burden of joblessness, especially the eight counties where rates were higher than 20%. Merced County, for instance, had an unemployment rate of 21.7% in January, and Imperial County's rate was 27.3%.

Once the national ID card comes, Americans will be able to pick strawberries instead of illegal immigrants.

Once national ID cards come US strawberries will either rot on the vine or cost $10/lb.

They pay 10 bucks to pick their own already. You do a small strawberry farm like that, and you won't have fruit left over to send to market.
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: Jaron on March 11, 2010, 02:10:23 PM
Maybe it'll be like that movie "Day without a Mexican"


A mysterious wall of fog that prevents white people from leaving will surround California!  :lmfao:
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: Vince on March 11, 2010, 04:30:05 PM
Quote from: Strix on March 11, 2010, 12:10:43 AM
I think NY deserves bonus points. We are about to have our second governor laid-off since the recession began.  :nelson:

And yet we can't get rid of the people in the NY State Senate.   :(
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: dps on March 11, 2010, 10:13:08 PM
Quote from: derspiess on March 11, 2010, 12:38:28 AM
Never thought I'd see West Virginia on the middle/low end for this stat

Unemployment in WV is always around 9-11%, whether the national rate is 4% or 20%.

Remember, unemployment figures only count those who are looking for work, which leaves out a big chunk of WV's population.

That's not just a joike, or a put-down, either.  Last figures I saw, WV had the highest percentage of it's population receiving Social Security (retirement or survivor's benefits) of any state, so there's a large group not in the labor market.  Average family size in WV is larger than the national average, which means more minors than in most states, so more full-time students not in the labor force.  I'd bet that there are more stay-at-home moms than in most states, too, so there's another group nor looking for work.
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: Valmy on March 12, 2010, 12:03:13 AM
Wow Texas is at 8.2%?  That is horrible.  That is 2% higher than last year.
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: Strix on March 12, 2010, 05:21:25 AM
Quote from: Vince on March 11, 2010, 04:30:05 PM
Quote from: Strix on March 11, 2010, 12:10:43 AM
I think NY deserves bonus points. We are about to have our second governor laid-off since the recession began.  :nelson:

And yet we can't get rid of the people in the NY State Senate.   :(

Of course not. The NY State Senate are like those people who feel they are entitled to collect welfare and other benefits but never attempt to work a day in their lives or even make an effort to improve themselves. We are stuck with their useless asses forever.  :hmm:
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: Martinus on March 12, 2010, 05:32:38 AM
Quote from: Jaron on March 11, 2010, 02:10:23 PM
Maybe it'll be like that movie "Day without a Mexican"

I think there was a plan to stage a similar protest for gay rights "Day without Gays". I think noone noticed unless one happened to have a hair appointment that day.  :blush:
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: Razgovory on March 12, 2010, 07:08:31 AM
Quote from: Martinus on March 12, 2010, 05:32:38 AM
Quote from: Jaron on March 11, 2010, 02:10:23 PM
Maybe it'll be like that movie "Day without a Mexican"

I think there was a plan to stage a similar protest for gay rights "Day without Gays". I think noone noticed unless one happened to have a hair appointment that day.  :blush:

It would backfire as people would get more work done in the day with out being interrupted by drama and snarky bitching.
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: garbon on March 16, 2010, 03:41:17 PM
Quote from: Martinus on March 12, 2010, 05:32:38 AM
I think there was a plan to stage a similar protest for gay rights "Day without Gays". I think noone noticed unless one happened to have a hair appointment that day.  :blush:

Typically we just stick with the day of silence.
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: Neil on March 16, 2010, 06:41:15 PM
Quote from: garbon on March 11, 2010, 12:43:41 AM
Quote from: derspiess on March 11, 2010, 12:38:28 AM
Never thought I'd see West Virginia on the middle/low end for this stat, but it looks like rural states are less affected by job losses.  North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska are still below 5%.
It must be hard to lose one's career as a subsistence farmer.
Subsistance farming is extinct in the US.
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: Neil on March 16, 2010, 06:44:14 PM
Quote from: Strix on March 12, 2010, 05:21:25 AM
Of course not. The NY State Senate are like those people who feel they are entitled to collect welfare and other benefits but never attempt to work a day in their lives or even make an effort to improve themselves. We are stuck with their useless asses forever.  :hmm:
Not quite.  They're more like people who massively overvalue their contribution to society, and who have the political muscle to twist the system to their advantage.  You know, like a public service union.
Title: Re: Unemployment in California hits 12.5%
Post by: Vince on March 16, 2010, 06:59:28 PM
Quote from: Strix on March 12, 2010, 05:21:25 AM
Quote from: Vince on March 11, 2010, 04:30:05 PM
Quote from: Strix on March 11, 2010, 12:10:43 AM
I think NY deserves bonus points. We are about to have our second governor laid-off since the recession began.  :nelson:

And yet we can't get rid of the people in the NY State Senate.   :(

Of course not. The NY State Senate are like those people who feel they are entitled to collect welfare and other benefits but never attempt to work a day in their lives or even make an effort to improve themselves. We are stuck with their useless asses forever.  :hmm:

Thus making me forever argue against stronger states rights.