California unemployment jumps to 8.2%, third-highest in the U.S.
The state's unemployment rate rises half a percentage point in October from the month earlier. In the past 12 months, more than 100,000 jobs have been lost.
California's unemployment rate rose dramatically in October to 8.2%, its highest level in 14 years, the U.S. Department of Labor reported this morning.
The increase from 7.7% in September was larger than the national increase in joblessness; the U.S. unemployment rate jumped four-tenths of a point, to 6.5%, in a tally reported earlier this month. California's unemployment is the third-highest in the United States, exceeded only by Michigan and Rhode Island at 9.3% each.
Seasonably adjusted unemployment rose 2.5% between October 2007 and October 2008, representing a loss of 101,300 jobs in the Golden State, the Department of Labor said.
California was one of 37 states that recorded over-the-month unemployment increases in October.
Lifsher is a Times staff writer.
marc.lifsher@latimes.com
