Unemployment in California reaches 70-year high

[Hannah Bell]

Official unemployment in California, the most populous state in the US, has reached a new historical milestone. At 12.2 percent in August, it is now at the highest level since 1940. It has risen 4.6 percentage points over the course of the last year alone.

The recently released unemployment figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveal the social reality that lies behind official claims of an end to the economic downturn. Just last week, speaking before an audience at the Brookings Institution in Washington DC, US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke claimed that the recession is “very likely over.” For workers throughout the country, however, the crisis is intensifying.

As high as it is, the statistic fails to capture the true gravity of the jobs situation in California. The 2.5 million people represented in the August figure do not include those who are out of work but have given up looking for a job, or those who are involuntarily working part-time. By some estimates, when calculated together, the unemployment and underemployment rate in California stands at 23 percent—nearly a quarter of the population.

Even this number, however, does not take into account the thousands of undocumented immigrants out of work in the state. Many immigrants are employed in the construction industry, which has been extremely hard hit by the downturn. Thus, the economic crisis in California affects workers in Mexico and Central and South America, as millions of families are dependent on remittances from relatives.

...the unemployment rate in California has a special historical significance. Known as the “Golden State,” California was once a symbol of post-war prosperity in the US...

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/sep2009/pers-s21.shtml

[lapfog_1]

1. So I guess Oklahoma should start seeing a lot of people like this showing up

[Selatius]

2. 23% unemployment is in Great Depression territory.

The big difference between now and then was that there were no social programs to alleviate some of the suffering that is going on right now. Many more safety nets exist now than it did back in the 1930s.

However, having said that, it does not lessen the seriousness of being in a depression.

[Brother Buzz]

8. Unemployment is 40% in agricultural regions affected by California aqueduct water interuptions

The Joad family would find no work, even at criminal substandard wages.

[Lilith Velkor]

3. kicky wicky

[Yuugal]

4. K&R nt

[Romulox]

5. Californians need to 1) retrain; and 2) relocate to where the jobs are.

:shrug:

[intheflow]

6. Relocate to India?

Because there just aren't that many jobs in any of the other U.S. states, either. Not to mention it costs money to move, AND mass labor migrations to more family fragmentations and increased stress which can also lead to more domestic violence and drug use.

[blindpig]

7. Right.

I'm in SC and meet people all the time who have moved here from the Northeast or Florida, looking for work. They are grievously disappointed.

But, but, it's a right to work state.:eyes:

[Romulox]

10. Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, etc. nt

[intheflow]

11. What makes you think there are jobs there?

Alabama unemployment rate: 10.4%
Arkansas unemployment rate: 7.1%
Texas unemployment rate: 8%

http://www.bls.gov/web/laumstrk.htm

There are other problems, too, such as the pay discrepancies and quality of available jobs (more minimum wage jobs in the South, at a lower rate of pay than minimum wage in California) and costs to relocate (first, last, security deposit, plus rent and gas to drive a U-Haul for four days across the country).

I see you live in Michigan, the state with the highest unemployment rate in the country. I'm assuming since you're taking this "let them eat cake" approach to unemployed Californians that you are gainfully employed. Because otherwise you'd be in process of uprooting yourself and your family to scoot down there to work at a Waffle House on the Gulf Coast for $7.25 an hour. Lucky you, Marie Antoinette; how have you managed to keep your compassion in tact living in that ivory tower of yours?

[TxRider]

15. Or 7.1% in Austin... CA at 12.1%

http://www.google.com/publicdata?ds=usunemployment&met=unemployment_rate&idim=state:ST060000&q=california+unemployment+rate#met=unemployment_rate&idim=state:ST060000:ST260000:ST480000

What is average non recession unemployment rate, about 5-6%?

You might even get a job at the worlds largest wind farm a bit farther west as they are putting them wind mills up as fast as they can.

No state income tax and lower cost of living/housing offsets a lot of pay discrepancy.

Only about 10k less annual median income in Texas vs CA

Cost of living index

CA:134.7

MI:101.3

TX:88.9

[intheflow]

16. So are you advocating Californians move to Austin for work?

Because everyone I know in Austin is unable to find work and want to move here to Colorado. :shrug:

[Selatius]

12. Unless they are in aerospace engineering, scratch off Alabama for most Californians.

And Florida is an economic crater. Heavy housing speculation crippled the economy there, and their extensive tourism industry has been shredded by the deep recession. Not to say that there aren't jobs there, but there are many more job seekers than there are jobs.

[TxRider]

9. It's ok, you can just come to Texas.. ;)

Everybody else is.

[Greyhound]

13. 3rd quarter K&R. n/t

[WillyT]

14. Yep... And I Scan Those Forms Every Day...

On heavy days, we will do well over 300,000 forms in about 8 hours.

Ironically... this is the job I landed after being laid off in the wake of 9/11 and the DotCom Bust.

:shrug: