 SAN FRANCISCO(KCBS/AP) - California's unemployment rate reached 6.9 percent in June, matching its highest level in nearly five years as more job losses in construction and manufacturing hammered the economy, state officials said Friday.
The June figure increased from 5.3 percent a year ago and from 6.8 percent in May, the Employment Development Department said.
The number of Californians out of work rose by 19,000 people last month to 1.28 million.
California's unemployment rate last hit 6.9 percent in October 2003.
Still, the Bay Area has the lowest jobless rate in the state. That doesn't mean that the area's not hurting though.
”The unemployment rate in the Bay Area increased significantly between May and June,” said Ruth Cavanaugh, a labor market specialist for the State Employment Development Department. “For example, the San Francisco metropolitan area had a five percent unemployment rate in June, compared to last year’s 4.1 percent in June.”
The construction industry has posted the biggest annual loss, shedding 86,000 jobs for a 9.5 percent decrease.
The manufacturing sector dipped 1.8 percent during that same period, losing 26,600 jobs. The financial sector lost 32,000 jobs, down 3.5 percent.
The state is tied with Mississippi for the third-highest jobless rate in the nation behind Michigan at No. 1 and Rhode Island, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The national unemployment rate was 5.5 percent last month.
(MGO) |
KCBS' Barbara Taylor reports
