Looking for signs of economic recovery in California (updated)

Russ Steele

Editor: More data was added, with a link to an LA Time story on CA employment.

California now has the second highest unemployment in the nation, only Nevada has a higher rate.  While news reports indicate Silicon Valley companies are hiring, some Bay Area counties saw unemplomnent rise from May to June. On the otherhand, two Counties saw a decline in unemployment, San Beninto County saw a 0.8 decline and San Mateo County a 0.7 decline.  

Here are some June 2011 unemployment numbers for other California Counties from CA EDD, with the May numbers in parentheses. The trend is toward more unemployment.

Bay Area Counties:

• San Francisco County, 9.0 percent (8.4 percent)

• San Mateo County, 8.0 percent (8.7 percent)

• Santa Clara County, 10.3 percent ( 9.7 percent)

• San Benito County, 15.8 percent (16.6 percent)

Local  Unemployment:

• Nevada County, 11.4 percent (11.1 percent)

Central Valley Counties:

• Butte County, 14.1 percent; (12.9 percent)

• Fresno County, 16.8 percent; (16.0 percent)

• Kern County, 15.3 percent; (15.0 percent)

• Kings County, 16.7 percent; (15.2 percent)

• Madera County, 15.2 percent; (14.5 percent)

• Merced County, 18.7 percent; (17.8 percent)

• Sacramento County, 12.6 percent; (11.8 percent)

• San Joaquin County, 16.7 percent; (16.2 percent)

• Stanislaus County, 17.2 percent; (16.7 percent)

• Tulare County, 15.8 percent; (15.1 percent)

• Yolo County, 12.1 percent; (11.8 percent)

• Yuba County, 18.3 percent; (17.0 percent)

When the ARRA stimulus program began, California unemployment was 10.1 percent. After spending $17 billion of the $30 billion dollars awarded to California, the states unemployment rate is now at 12.1 percent, up from 11.4 percent.  I guess the stimulus did more harm than good. 

Exit Question: When will we see signs of true economic recovery?