California Unemployment

According to the BLS current population survey (CPS), the unemployment rate for California fell 0.2 percentage points in December 2011 to 11.1%. The state unemployment rate was 2.6 percentage points higher than the national rate for the month. The unemployment rate in California peaked in September 2010 at 12.5% and is now 1.4 percentage points lower. You can also see California unemployment compared to other states.

Unemployment Rate	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	8.5%	-0.2	-0.9
California	11.1%	-0.2	-1.4

Note: All comparisons are made with December data as January state level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: California, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray

California Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in California peaked in December 2010 at 2,272,547. There are now 251,352 fewer people unemployed in the state. California job growth data is also available.

Unemployed Persons	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
California	2,021,195	-36,575	-251,352

Number of Unemployed Persons

California Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	California Unemployment Rate	California Unemployed
January 2012	8.3%	—	—
December 2011	8.5%	11.1%	2,021,195
November 2011	8.7%	11.3%	2,057,770
October 2011	8.9%	11.7%	2,122,276
September 2011	9.0%	11.9%	2,151,053
August 2011	9.1%	12.1%	2,175,155
July 2011	9.1%	12.0%	2,166,544
June 2011	9.1%	11.8%	2,132,720
May 2011	9.0%	11.7%	2,115,705
April 2011	9.0%	11.8%	2,141,223
March 2011	8.9%	12.0%	2,175,994
February 2011	9.0%	12.1%	2,200,514
January 2011	9.1%	12.4%	2,246,073