California April 2013 Unemployment Rate

California's official unemployment rate continued to improve in April 2013, dropping by 0.4% from March to 9.0%.  California's unemployment rate continues to lag the nation as a whole and is the 4th-highest in the nation ahead of Nevada, Illinois, and Mississippi.

SOURCE:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics:  Unemployment Rate for States, Seasonally Adjusted (April 2013, preliminary).
www.bls.gov/web/laus/laumstrk.htm

The total number of non-farm payroll jobs in California continues to improve and presently stands at 14,602,200.  The current levels is down 539,900 jobs since January 2008.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics:  California, Total Nonfarm, Seasonally adjusted - SMS06000000000000001.

data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/surveymost?sm+06

California March 2013 Unemployment Rate Compared to the Other 49 States

California's state unemployment rate dropped 0.2% from 9.6% in February down to 9.4% in March.  Despite the improvement, California tied with Mississippi for the nation's 3rd-highest unemployment rate behind Nevada and Illinois.  In February, California was tied for highest unemployment.

Nationally, the percentage of people participating the civilian workforce (EMRATIO) remains relatively low and stagnant, despite the Obama Administration's $787 billion Stimulus package (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, ARRA).  The current level remains roughly at its lowest in a generation--since the major recession during the early years of the Reagan Administration.  One of the provisions of the ARRA provided up to 99 weeks of unemployment benefits--nearly two years--which may have reduced job-seeking activities.  Likewise, the uncertainty of threatened tax hikes and the costs of implementing the Affordable Care Act (i.e. ObamaCare) may have reduced hiring activity.

Similarly, the average or mean duration of unemployment (UEMPMEAN) remains well above previous levels, although it has dropped slightly since its record high in 2011.  The average duration of unemployment remains well above--almost double--the previous-record levels set during the early 1980s.

Total non-farm employment (PAYEMS) continues to grow, although at a slower rate than after the last three recessions.  Note the slope of the dashed burgundy lines in the chart below.  The slope is shallower during the current recession, indicating slower job growth.  Total employment has not yet surpassed the previous peak in 2008.  During the current recession, total payroll fell below the trough of the previous dip for the first time since data was collected (1939).

California February 2013 Unemployment Rate Compared to the Other 49 States

California's state unemployment rate dropped 0.2% from 9.8% in January down to 9.6% in February.  Despite the improvement, California tied with Mississippi and Nevada for the states with the highest unemployment rate.

See also ...

• California January 2013 Unemployment Rate Compared to 49 Other States
• California December 2012 Unemployment Rate Compared to 49 Other States
• California November 2012 Unemployment Rate Compared to 49 Other States

California January 2013 Unemployment Rate Compared to 49 Other States

The Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the January 2013 seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for each state.  This release was delayed from late February until mid-March, perhaps because the BLS was adjusting the last two years worth of data.

Regardless, California's unemployment rate remains stubbornly steady at 9.8%.  Thanks to big improvements by Nevada in January, California is now tied for worst unemployment with Rhode Island.

The BLS will release the February 2013 unemployment data on 29-MAR-2013.

California December 2012 Unemployment Rate Compared to 49 Other States

California's December 2012 unemployment rate remained flat compared to November 2012, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  California's unemployment rate dropped 1.4% from the 11.2% rate one year ago. California's unemployment rate is 3rd highest in the nation, ahead of only Rhode Island and Nevada.  Nevada's economy is closely coupled with California's.  However, Nevada's December unemployment rate improved by 0.6% compared to November's rate, tying Rhode Island.

The EMRATIO shows that there continues to be lower-than-usual participation in the labor market nationally.  Compare the duration of the current low ratio against the deeper but shorter dip during the early 1980s.  Remember also that the current situation stubbornly persists even after a whopping $878 BILLION federal stimulus program and significant quantitative easing by the Federal Reserve.

The UEMPMEAN data shows the average duration that a worker is unemployed--currently around 38 weeks!  Again, notice the stark difference to the recession in the early 1980s.

The UEMPMED data shows the median duration of unemployment.  Half the workers have shorter unemployment, half the workers have longer unemployment.  Note the difference between the average (mean) duration above and the median duration, shown below.  Half the workers are finding jobs in about 18 weeks.  However, the large average indicates that the other half require significantly longer to find a new job.

The wide spread between the average duration and the median duration (UEMPMEAN-UEMPMED) indicates that there are a large number of unemployed workers that still have not found jobs.  There could be possible effects of the federal government providing up to 99 weeks of unemployment benefits.  Again,  the difference between the 1980's recession and the most-recent recession is interesting.

California November 2012 Unemployment Compared to 49 Other States

The November 2012 state unemployment report brought some welcome good news to California.  California's overall unemployment rate dropped below 10% for the first time since the start of the recession, thanks to strong job growth in parts of California and thanks to some job seekers dropping off the official count.  Tempering the good news, actual payrolls dropped by 3,800 compared to October, 2012.

California's unemployment rate dropped by 0.3% from October 2012.  However, California's unemployment rate stubbornly remains the third highest in the nation, ahead of only Rhode Island and Nevada (who is heavily dependent upon a healthy California economy).  California's overall unemployment rate remains well above the national average.

SOURCE: United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics: Unemployment Rate for States