State Unemployment Rates Declines, Valley Rate Rises

December 18, 2009

Sacramento - Unemployment rates in counties across the valley have risen while the overall rate in California has declined by about one-tenth of a percentage point, the state Employment Development Department said in a released statement.

The increased unemployment rates occurred in November despite the rise of seasonal retail hiring to cater to the holiday shopping season. The state’s unemployment rates slightly declined to 12.2% in the same month.

Tulare County, being one of the places affected, had a 16.5% unemployment rate in November as compared to 15.9% in October, more than 4% increase from its rate last year.

Fresno County is also estimated to have 16.5% unemployment rate which leaves about 73,100 unemployed workers in the county.