Chico, California Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Chico rose 0.3 percentage points in March 2012 to 12.7%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.7 percentage points higher than the California rate. The unemployment rate in Chico peaked in December 2010 at 14.2% and is now 1.5 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 12.4% in February 2012, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.3 percentage points. You can also compare Chico unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	March 2012	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	8.2%	-0.1	-0.7
California	11.0%	+0.1	-0.9
Chico	12.7%	+0.3	-0.9

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with March 2012 data as April metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Chico, California, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Chico, California Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Chico peaked in December 2010 at 14,775. There are now 1,906 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 12,711 in February 2012, the number of unemployed has now grown by 158. Chico employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Chico, California) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	March 2012	Month/Month	Year/Year
Chico	12,869	+158	-1,249

Number of Unemployed Persons

Chico, California Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	California Unemployment Rate	Chico Unemployment Rate	Chico Unemployed
April 2012	8.1%	10.9%	—	—
March 2012	8.2%	11.0%	12.7%	12,869
February 2012	8.3%	10.9%	12.4%	12,711
January 2012	8.3%	10.9%	12.5%	12,840
December 2011	8.5%	11.2%	12.7%	13,216
November 2011	8.7%	11.3%	13.1%	13,580
October 2011	8.9%	11.5%	13.6%	14,040
September 2011	9.0%	11.7%	13.8%	14,183
August 2011	9.1%	11.9%	13.8%	14,260
July 2011	9.1%	11.9%	13.6%	14,186
June 2011	9.1%	11.9%	13.5%	13,988
May 2011	9.0%	11.9%	13.3%	13,788
April 2011	9.0%	11.8%	13.4%	13,940