Local unemployment up in June

EL CENTRO — The unemployment rate in Imperial County for the month of June was an estimated 18.6, up from a revised 16.5 percent in May, the state Employment Development Department announced Friday.

This compares to an unemployment rate of 4.2 percent for the state and 3.8 percent for the nation.

The more than 2 percentage point increase in the state can be attributed to a net loss of approximately 700 jobs in June combined with an increase in the civilian labor force of about 800 persons.

The estimated civilian labor force in Imperial County in June was 70,100 persons, of whom 13,000 were unemployed.

Colusa County was the only other California county in double digits at 10.5 percent.

San Mateo County again registered the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 2.2 percent.

Among the state highlights from this month’s report:

• The state’s unemployment rate held at 4.2 percent still hovering near California’s record low unemployment rate of 4.1 percent set in July through December 2018.

• June’s 46,200 job gain was California’s second largest job increase in 2019 and accounted for approximately 21 percent of the nation’s 224,000 job gain for the month.

• The state’s 112-month employment expansion is the second-longest on record behind the 113-month long expansion of the 1960’s.

• California has gained 3,284,300 jobs since the current economic expansion began in February 2010, averaging 29,320 jobs gained per month over the period — far more than the 8-9,000 jobs needed each month to keep up with growth in the labor force.

• Nine of California’s 11 major industry sectors gained jobs in June. The biggest increase of 11,900 jobs came in construction; the largest June job increase in that industry in 10 years. Commercial and home construction both contributed to the construction industry’s June surge.