Avalon unemployment stands at 4.9 percent of the available workforce, according to figures recently issued by the California Employment Development Department.
“That’s almost full employment,” said Wayne Griffin, president and CEO of the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce.
Avalon unemployment stands at 4.9 percent of the available workforce, according to figures recently issued by the California Employment Development Department.
“That’s almost full employment,” said Wayne Griffin, president and CEO of the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce.
Avalon’s February 2013 unemployment rate of 4.9 percent was not only an improvement over the previous month, it was also an improvement over the previous year. In February 2012, Avalon had an unemployment rate of 5.5 percent. In February 2011, the Avalon unemployment rate was 5.9 percent.
Avalon workers are doing better than workers in other parts of the state. On Friday, March 29, the state employment agency reported that California’s statewide unemployment rate dropped to 9.6 percent from the January rate of 9.8 percent.
The U.S. Unemployment rate decreased to 7.7 percent in February.
“In January, the state’s unemployment rate was 9.8 percent and in February 2012, the unemployment rate was 10.8 percent,” according to the EDD statement. “The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,500 California households.”
According to the state agency, California gained 41,200 job during the month. These were non-farm jobs.
The Employment Development Department statistics are current for the month of February. March unemployment figures will be released later in April. The figures are preliminary and have not been adjusted for the season. Also keep in mind that unemployment figures are based on the workers’ city of residence rather than the city in which they have jobs.
Just like the state of California, Avalon saw the unemployment rate decrease from 5.2 percent in January to 4.9 percent in February.
“I’m not surprised that it dropped from January to February,” said Chamber CEO Griffin.
He said December and January were Catalina’s worst months.
However, Wayne was concerned about the statewide unemployment figures.
“Unemployed people don’t take vacations,” Griffin said.
“We need to see employment down below 9 percent,” Griffin said. As for Catalina’s economy, Griffin said that, “we’ve bottomed out.”
However, he said that Catalina business activity is well below the peak year of 2000.
