Unemployment in California reached 6.8 percent in May the state announced recently. That’s up from 6.2 percent in April and 5.3 percent in May 2007.
Contrast that with 5.5 percent for May 2008 for the United States as a whole. And 5.0 percent for the U.S. in April.
Industries which added jobs included natural resources and mining, information, educational and health services and other services.
Fields that lost jobs included construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; financial activities; professional and business services and leisure and hospitality.
California often leads the country in determining what’s cool. We’ll see if it leads in predicting unemployment increases. But remember, the U.S. unemployment number often hovers around 5 percent so we’ve still got a ways to go before getting worried.

June 24, 2008.