More Californians stop seeking work as virus surges
By Adam Beam
(Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - More than 327,000 people stopped looking for work in California last month, a worrisome trend that has clouded the state’s economic picture during its worst outbreak of the coronavirus.
California’s unemployment rate dropped to 8.2% in November, falling for the sixth month in a row since reaching an all-time high of 16.4% in April and May. But the state only added 57,100 jobs in November, down from 145,500 gained in October.
Experts said the falling unemployment rate is mostly because so many people have stopped looking for work. Since November of last year, nearly 600,000 people have ended their search more than half of them in November, according to data released Friday by the state Employment Development Department.
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California’s unemployment rate dropped to 8.2% in November, falling for the sixth month in a row since reaching an all-time high of 16.4% in April and May. But the state only added 57,100 jobs in November, down from 145,500 gained in October.
Experts said the falling unemployment rate is mostly because so many people have stopped looking for work. Since November of last year, nearly 600,000 people have ended their search more than half of them in November, according to data released Friday by the state Employment Development Department.
The numbers likely represent parents staying home to care for children, people going back to school to learn new skills, and others frustrated with the lack of available jobs, said Sung Won Sohn, a professor of finance and economics at Loyola Marymount University.