County Unemployment Rate Tops 30 Percent
Figures from the California Department of Economic Development show Imperial County's seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate was over 30 percent in July.
The number of people who were unemployed in Imperial County in June increased significantly to 23,200, which was an increase of 2,100 people from June, when the number of unemployed people in Imperial County was 21,100.
According to figures from the EDD Web site, the unemployment rate for July in Imperial County was 30.2 per cent. That number represents an increase of 2.7 percentage points from June, when the rate was 27.5 percent. The July unemployment rate in Imperial County is still the highest in the state, and the highest in the nation.
The number of people who were unemployed in Imperial County in June increased significantly to 23,200, which was an increase of 2,100 people from June, when the number of unemployed people in Imperial County was 21,100.
The number of employed people in Imperial County in May also decreased to 53,600, down from the June figure of 55,700. The figures from the EDD also show the total labor force in Imperial County stayed the same in July at 76,800.
The EDD report also shows the unemployment rate in California rose again in July. The statewide unemployment rate was 11.9 percent in June, up from 11.6 percent in June.
For a comprehensive look at Imperial County's July employment figures, Click HERE
The county's all-time high unemployment rate is 31 percent, which was recorded in 1992, according to the 2007 annual report issued by the Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation (IVEDC).
To view the report, Click HERE
The Imperial County numbers have not been seasonally adjusted. Due to the number of people in the region who work in agriculture, and who move out of the area when that work is completed, the number of unemployed people in Imperial County listed in the report is most likely higher than the actual number of unemployed people here, and may be adjusted downward.
Government employment, either local, state or federal, accounts for nearly one-third of all the jobs in Imperial County, due to the fact that two big state prisons are located in the county, (Calipatria and Centinela), and the presence of a large Border Patrol force. The IVEDC report also indicates that 21.8 percent of the Imperial county workforce is comprised of agricultural workers.