Overall Statewide Employment Picture Improves In July

The number of employed people in California is slowly, but steadily, rising, according to the latest employment figures released Friday by the California Employment Development Department.

In July, the statewide unemployment rate decreased to 6.2 percent, which is 0.1 percent less than the previous month, according to the employment department. In the same month last year, the unemployment rate was 7.4 percent.

In the Bay Area, San Mateo County had the lowest percent of unemployed residents in July at 3.6, with Marin trailing behind with 3.7 percent unemployment.

By comparison, Placer County tallied 5.2 percent for the month; Sacramento County figures were at 6.2 percent.

The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,500 California households, the employment department said.

The results show an increase in the number of employed people, estimating that the number of Californians holding jobs in July was 17,861,000, an increase of 14,00 from June, and up 455,000 from the employment total in July of last year, according to the employment department.

The nationwide unemployment rate in July remained unchanged from the previous month, staying at 5.3 percent, the employment department said.

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--Bay City News contributed to this report.