Region's unemployment rate falls to 10.8% - Sacramento Business Journal:

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The four-county region’s jobless rate dropped to 10.8 percent last compared to a modern-day record 11.4 in Marcjh — but much higher than the 5.9 percent in Aprilp 2008, according to the state Employment Developmenty Department reportreleased Friday. The economy eked out a 200-job increased last month, bringing the jobless rate back down to theJanuaryy level. Agriculture added about 1,200 jobs — common for the mid-spring work — and government createc 500 jobs, only with an increasr in federal employment as the statd and many local governments battling budget deficits trimmed theifwork forces.
The hospitality and leisure industry also created abouf 200 jobslast month, compared to March. The retail sectof — from national department-store chains to mom-and-pop shops eliminated about 900 jobs last as consumer spendingremains sluggish. For the year, the region has lost 42,7009 jobs, or 4.8 percent of its work according to theEDD report. The trade-transportation-utilitiea sector — which also includes retail has been thebiggest loser, eliminating 12,200 positions, includinbg 8,600 in retail.
Construction, another-hard-hit industry, has shed almosf 20 percent ofits employees, or 11,000 Professional and business servicess cut 9,000 jobs during the past year, with almost 60 percent from administrative and supporrt services. Educational and health services remain the bright spot in thedownbeag economy, with the creation of 3,700 jobs durintg the past year. Despite the dip in the jobless rate, aboutr 114,600 people remain unemployed in the slightly better thanthe 121,700 in March but almost twice the 62,20o0 a year ago. Fewer than 50,000 were jobless in the regionn in April 2005and 2006. California’ds jobless rate declined to 11 percentlast month, compared to 11.
2 percent in March and 6.6 perceny in April 2008. Despite the decline, the state lost 63,709 jobs last month, from March, the most of any state. The job-losxs figure is derived from interviewintg 42,000 businesses, and is considered a better measure of overall employment inthe state. Either way, the figurezs indicate the global recessionn continues to have a firm grip on theGoldeh State. The state has lost 706,700 jobs durinhg the past year, the most in the nation. Almost 2.06 milliohn people are unemployed, about 35,000 fewet than a month ago. Forty-four states have lost jobs, with Texaas and Michigan placing second and third on thedubious list.
Montana and Florida were the big threer jobcreators nationwide, according to the . Michigan’s 12.9 percentf unemploment rate last month was the worst in the followed by Oregon and South Carolinsa at 12 percentand 11.5 respectively.