OPINION

California's lackluster recovery continues as unemployment rate dips below 12%

Townhall Staff
Townhall Staff  |  May 20, 2011
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California's weak recovery continued in April as the state added 8,900 jobs, pushing the unemployment rate down to 11.9%. It is the first time the unemployment rate has dipped below 12% since August 2009, and follows a month in which the state lost 14,900 jobs.

The state has added 144,400 jobs over the year.

Still, the job creation pales in comparison to national figures released earlier this month that showed the country added 244,000 positions in April. States such as New York, Texas and Pennsylvania accounted for much of that gain.

"The pistons in the engine are beginning to gradually power up and the economy is slowly gaining strength and momentum," said Sung Won Sohn, an economist at Cal State Channel Islands. "But we are lagging the nation in terms of job growth."