State Jobless Rate Holds At Record Low

Sacramento, CA — California’s unemployment rate remained steady at 4.2 percent in May, while the state added 5,500 nonfarm payroll jobs.

The rate tied the record low set in April, according to the numbers released today (Friday) by the California Employment Development Department. Last year in May the state’s unemployment rate was 4.9 percent.

The Mother Lode’s rate continued its downward trend, with better even below the state’s. Tuolumne County’s rate dropped from 4.6-percent to 4.1-percent in May. Calaveras County’s rate was the lowest at 3.5-percent last month compared to 3.8-percent in April.

Four sectors added a total of 12,900 jobs in May. The top job getter was leisure and hospitality with a gain of 7,900. Six of California industries reported job losses over the month with construction down 2,900 jobs. Holding on to its title of lowest unemployment rate is San Mateo County, which dropped from 2-percent in April to 1.9-percent last month.  Imperial County surpassed Colusa County, which had held the state’s highest jobless numbers for several months including April at 15 percent. Imperial saw a hike to 15.8-percent in May over Colusa’s11.6-percent rate.

The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 3.8 percent, with employers added 223,000 nonfarm payroll jobs.