California Unemployment Increased to 12.2% in August (includes look at 20 largest cities) (Los Angeles: 2009, employment)

[FresnoFacts]

California's unemployment rate rose again to 12.2% in August. In August 2008 it was only 7.8%.
http://www.edd.ca.gov/About_EDD/pdf/urate200909.pdf

The list broken down for all individual cities and counties in Excel is at:
http://www.calmis.ca.gov/file/lfmonth/allsubs.xls

For work I needed to look at some data that I thought I'd share. I needed to look at the 20 largest cities in California (listed by population within the city proper, not suburbs or counties). So here are their unemployment rates:
Los Angeles 13.8%
San Diego 10.4%
San Jose 13.3%
San Francisco 10.1%
Fresno 13.7%
Long Beach 13.8%
Sacramento 14.3%
Oakland 17.5%
Santa Ana 15.1%
Anaheim 12.3%
Bakersfield 10.1%
Riverside 15.1%
Stockton 18.9%
Chula Vista 12.1%
Fremont 8.5%
Irvine 7.3%
Modesto 13.6%
Glendale 11.0%
San Bernardino 18.5%
Huntington Beach 7.9%

I was surprised to see that Fresno is doing slightly better than Los Angeles, Sacramento, Long Beach and some others and is only slightly higher than San Jose. I don't think that has happened in decades.

To see Bakersfield having a rate the same as San Francisco and slightly lower than San Diego is also a surprise.

The difference in rates just shows how unevenly the recession has hit different sectors and areas of the state.

[18Montclair]

I'm sorry but at this point-to say Fresno is slightly better than LA is fruitless. We're all passengers on a sinking ship--the location of your stateroom won't save you.

[FresnoFacts]

But in the last decade Fresno has been 2 to 5% higher than the other cities. So yes it appears that it is doing better even with the local housing crash.

We might all be on a sinking ship but it looks like some areas are sinking faster than others. That might make a difference when the rescue boats arrive.

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by FresnoFacts

But in the last decade Fresno has been 2 to 5% higher than the other cities. So yes it appears that it is doing better even with the local housing crash.

Well that's a good point.

We might all be on a sinking ship but it looks like some areas are sinking faster than others. That might make a difference when the rescue boats arrive.

Touche!

Excuse me while I adjust my oxygen tank as Oakland is probably under water if we're all in a sinking ship. LOL

[jc76]

You guys are lucky. Not that in matters to CA residents, but here's ours: Elkhart County’s Jobless Rate Fell to 16.8% in June | RV Business

Back up to 18% as of today.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by jc76

You guys are lucky. Not that in matters to CA residents, but here's ours: Elkhart County’s Jobless Rate Fell to 16.8% in June | RV Business

Back up to 18% as of today.

Huntsville (Madison County), AL: 7.9%

Check this neat google tool out:

http://www.google.com/publicdata?ds=...10890:CN060370

[bayarea-girl]

Seeing reports like these just frustrates me when the media and the government try to communicate to us that we are out of the recession. It is so scary when I see on the news in CA a job fair where thousands show up and they have to turn them away.

[FresnoFacts]

Here's one today from what was just a few years ago a big destination for those leaving California:
Las Vegas 13.4%

Originally Posted by 18Montclair

Excuse me while I adjust my oxygen tank as Oakland is probably under water if we're all in a sinking ship. LOL

LOL Right now I'm picturing the "Poseidon Adventure". The ship has turned upside down, hopefully someone will arrive soon to cut a hole in the hull and rescue the survivors.

[FresnoFacts]

Originally Posted by bayarea-girl

Seeing reports like these just frustrates me when the media and the government try to communicate to us that we are out of the recession.

The politicians forget that job recovery lags the end of a recession much longer than in the past. It will be at least another year or two before US employment recovers.

Few people really care if the government says we are coming out of the recession. The only thing that matters to most people is "Do I and the people I know have jobs again?"

Until people can answer that question with yes most of us will feel there is still a recession.

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by FresnoFacts

Here's one today from what was just a few years ago a big destination for those leaving California:
Las Vegas 13.4%

Vegas has been hit really hard too.

Right now I'm picturing the "Poseidon Adventure". The ship has turned upside down, hopefully someone will arrive soon to cut a hole in the hull and rescue the survivors.

Yes, hopefully we won't have drowned by then. LOL

As usual we'll get through this the way do all downturns.

Together.