The County's unemployment rate (not adjusted for seasonality) declined slightly to 13.8% in November. The labor force declined by 900 -- rather unexpected since people should be out there looking for seasonal jobs prior to the holidays. From the 3/'09 peak of 888,500, the County's reported labor force has fallen by 17,700, or 2.0%. The number of employed residents increased by 1,900 in November, thanks to strong, seasonal, retail hiring (+5,500 in the two-county area). With the reduction in labor force and a slight increase in employment, the calculated unemployment rate declined as a result.
January 29, 2010
