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

According to an Employment Development Department (EDD) report (PDF) released on May 21, nonfarm payroll jobs INCREASED  by 14,200 in April 2010, but the unemployment RATE remained the same at 12.6%. The U.S. unemployment rate increased to 9.9% in April.

In March, California’s unemployment rate was 12.6%, and in April 2009 the unemployment rate was 11.0%.

California has gained jobs in every one of the first four months of 2010, with the gain totaling 56,400 jobs for the period. Nonfarm jobs in California totaled 13,866,000 in April. The year-over-year change from April 2009 to April 2010 shows a decrease of 355,300 jobs (down 2.5%).

The report had the following to say about job categories:

“Five categories (mining and logging; professional and business services; leisure and hospitality; other services; and government) added jobs over the month, gaining 28,200 jobs. Government posted the largest increase over the month, adding 14,000 jobs. Six categories (construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; information; financial activities; and educational and health services) reported job declines this month, down 14,000 jobs. Manufacturing posted the largest decline over the month, down by 4,100 jobs.”

“Two industry divisions, information, and educational and health services, posted job gains over the year, adding 37,300 jobs. Educational and health services recorded the largest increase over the year on both a numerical and percentage basis, up 32,100 jobs (a 1.9 percent increase).”

“Nine categories (mining and logging; construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; financial activities; professional and business services; leisure and hospitality; other services; and government) posted job declines over the year, down 392,600 jobs. Construction employment showed the largest decline over the year on both a numerical and percentage basis, down by 92,300 jobs (a decline of 14.3 percent).”

EDD reported 729,211 people receiving regular unemployment insurance benefits during the April survey week. The total is 1,529,448 when federal extensions are included. These firgures compare with 768,583 last month and 853,607 last year. New claims for unemployment insurance were 83,896 in April 2010, compared with 70,450 in March and 72,718 in April of last year.

Some 24 California counties had unemployment rates of greater than or equal to 15.0%, with Imperial County number 1 in unemployment in California at 27.9%.

-Bill at

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

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