Cheshire Cat Photo Blog(...said the Cat: 'we're all mad here....')

The California Employment Development Department (EDD) released its February report last Friday, March 26. Nonfarm payroll jobs declined by 20,400 during February. The U.S. unemployment rate was also steady in Februaery, at 9.7%.

In February of 2009, the unemployment rate for California was 10.2%, as derived from a federal survey of 5,500 California households. The number of unemployed people in California was 2,274,000, which is UP by 5,000 during February and up by 406,000 as compared with February of last year.

The EDD report also broke down the statistics by job category:

“Five categories (mining and logging; trade, transportation and utilities; professional and business services; educational and health services; and other services) added jobs over the month, gaining 23,700 jobs. Professional and business services posted the largest increase over the month, adding 10,000 jobs. Six categories (construction; manufacturing; information; financial activities; leisure and hospitality; and government) reported job declines this month, down 44,100 jobs. Construction posted the largest decline over the month, down by 21,500 jobs.”

“One industry division, educational and health services, posted job gains over the year, adding 21,200 jobs (a 1.2 percent increase).”

“Ten categories (mining and logging; construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; information; financial activities; professional and business services; leisure and hospitality; other services; and government) posted job declines over the year, down 607,600 jobs. Trade, transportation and utilities employment showed the largest decline on a numerical basis, down by 123,500 jobs (a decline of 4.6 percent). Construction posted the largest decline on a percentage basis, down by 17.7 percent (a decrease of 119,900 jobs).”

In the detailed tables of data that accompany EDD employment reports, there were 27 California counties with 15% unemployment or greater. Colusa County topped the list with 27.6% unemployment.

-Bill at

Cheshire Cat Photo™ – “Your Guide to California’s Wonderland™”

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