CA Unemployment Rate Lags Behind Rest Of U.S. In Spite Of Growth

CALIFORNIA — California unemployment reached a major milestone in November, pushing under a rate of 7 percent for the first time since March 2020. Even still, California's workforce recovery is lagging far behind the rest of the country.

The California unemployment rate in November was 6.9 percent, a 0.4 percent decrease from October and a 1.8 percent decrease from November 2020, according to data from the California Employment Development Department.

The improvement still puts California at the bottom of the national pack. November is the third month in a row California has had the highest rate of unemployment in the country, matched only by Nevada. The national average unemployment rate in November was 4.2 percent, according to CalMatters.

That said, November's improvement is the biggest month-to-month drop in unemployment since February. The state has now regained around 70 percent of the jobs lost in March and April, something Gov. Gavin Newsom proudly called "an unprecedented achievement."

California's November job growth accounted for 22 percent of jobs added in the entire country, according to a news release from Newsom.

So what does this employment really look like for each sector?

Eight of 11 California industry sectors saw improvement, with construction and mining and logging losing significant employment, according to Employment Development Department data.

Professional and business services was the industry with the most workforce growth, adding over 18,000 jobs from October to November. The second-most jobs were added in the education and health services industry, followed by leisure and hospitality.

County by county, unemployment rates range. Imperial County had the highest rate of unemployment in the state with 15.5 percent in November. Marin County sat far below the state average with a rate of 2.9 percent, the rate in the state.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.