Unemployment Especially High in California

No matter how much we know it’s unlikely, the grass can’t help but look greener on the other side of the fence.  It seems like every news website is quick to tell us which cities have bustling streets, healthy citizens, and affordable homes.  The reality is that if your hometown is just trying to figure out how to get people back to work, you’re in good company.

In the United States, a total of 219 areas recorded unemployment rates below the U.S. figure of 9.2 percent, 150 areas reported rates above it, and 3 areas had rates equal to that of the nation.

A total of 14 out of 372 metropolitan areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent. A total of 112 metropolitan areas reported jobless rates of at least 10.0 percent, while 8 areas registered rates of less than 5.0 percent.

The area that’s suffering the most from unemployment in the country seems to be California.  Among the fourteen areas with jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent in March 2011, twelve were located in California.  El Centro, California recorded the highest unemployment rate, 24.6 percent; three other areas had rates above 20.0 percent.