.png)
At 11.9 percent, California's unemployment rate is now one of the highest in the country, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is the highest unemployment that the state has had since World War II. The national rate last month was 9.4 percent.
This comes after an especially rough July in which approximately 35,000 people lost their jobs, says the state's Employment Development Department. California has lost 760,200 jobs in the past year, according to a recent report.
Oregon also has experienced similar job loss rates and is tied with California in terms of unemployment. The only states with higher unemployment rates were Michigan (15 percent), Rhode Island (12.7 percent and Nevada (12.5 percent). Las Vegas’ unemployment rate is now is at 13.1 percent. Twenty-six other states that reported job losses saw their jobless rates rise last month.
On Friday the stock market rallied to its highest levels since last November, as people speculate that the worst of the recession is over. However, the latest unemployment statistics have left doubts that the worst is over.
The housing industry, which includes construction and remodeling, is one of the driving factors for the high rate. The industry has seen a loss in over 30 percent of construction jobs in the past three years. Further compounding the problems were job losses in the education and government sectors. Santa Clara County had an 11.7 percent unemployment rate.
A report issued by the Department of Labor stated that 21 states increased jobs last month. New York added over 62,000 jobs, the most of any state. The automotive industry is making a rebound, with many more jobs added in states such as Indiana.
Washington D.C., the city with the lowest levels, has six job listings for every unemployed worker. The second place city is Jacksonville. Detroit is at the bottom of the barrel with 18 unemployed workers per posting.
