Tim Willert
GLENDALE -- Local unemployment continued to rise in July, reflecting a
growing trend fueled by a sluggish economy, local and regional experts
said Monday.
Glendale unemployment reached 5.8% or 5,860 people last month, up from
5.5% in July 2000, said Bill Freed, a labor market consultant with the
California Employment Development Department.
In June, the city's unadjusted unemployment rate, which does not
reflect seasonal employment patterns, was 5%, Freed said.
The figures do not reflect local industry sectors, he said.
Additionally, July unemployment figures for the Montrose and La
Crescenta areas rose slightly, but remained low at 2.8% and 3.3%
respectively.
"I attribute [the rise] to a general economic decline throughout the
state and the nation as a whole," Freed said. "The reason it's going to
be higher is because the county as a whole is higher."
Countywide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose from 5.5%
in June to 5.6% in July. The unadjusted employment rate was 6.2%.
Statewide, the adjusted unemployment rate was 4.9%, down from 5.1% in
June. The U.S. unemployment rate for July was 4.5%.
According to Don Nakamoto, a labor market specialist with the
city-administered Verdugo Workforce Investment Board, the city
unemployment rate has risen by 1% since May, after holding steady since
January.
"There's been a spike upward in the last few months, which reflects
the general economy," said Don Nakamoto, a labor market specialist with
the city. "But for there to be any concern there would have to be a much
larger rising trend."
The city does have work force development programs to help unemployed
people in the city finds jobs, Nakamoto said.
"The programs are fairly busy," he said. "We've had quite a few people
come in for services."
Jack Kyser, chief economist with the L.A. County Economic Development
Corp., said Monday that while the unemployment rate has increased in the
Verdugo Consortium, which includes Burbank, Glendale and La Canada
Flintridge, so have the number of jobs, up from 157,200 in July 2000 to
159,300 last month.
