Mother Lode Bucking Trend

Sonora, CA – For a third month in a row, California’s unemployment rate has held steady at 7.4% for August. While the state’s numbers remain the same, the Mother Lodes are dropping.

Tuolumne County saw the biggest change with a 7.5% rate in August dropping from 8.1% in July. Calaveras County’s rate inched down to 8.2% for August from 8.6% in July.

The California Employment Development Department reports construction had the largest increase with 13,600 new jobs. Mining and logging also saw gains. Trade, transportation, utilities, and information had the biggest losses.

In August of last year, the state’s unemployment rate was 8.9 percent.