Slight Uptick In California October Unemployment Rate, Mother Lode Mixed

Sacramento, CA – California and some of the Mother Lode saw October jobless rates inch up while the Calaveras County rate held steady.

The state Employment Development Department released last month’s figures on Friday, November 15. California’s rate rose slightly to 5.4 percent in October from 5.3 percent in September. That is a one-tenth of a percentage point increase from September and a loss of 5,500 nonfarm payroll jobs in October, which follows a downward revised job gain of 12,700 for the previous month.

The Mother Lode rate was mixed, with Tuolumne County’s climbing from 5.1 percent in September to 5.2 percent last month. Calaveras County’s rate held steady at 4.5 percent for September and October.

Five of the 11 industry sectors gained jobs last month, with the largest gain in private education and health services, adding 9,400 jobs. Trade, transportation and utilities also posted increases of 2,600 jobs. The industry with the most job losses was professional and business services at 8,300. Government jobs also dropped by 7,500.

The nation’s unemployment rate rose from 4.1 percent in September to 5.4 percent last month.