O.C. jobless rate falls to 2.9% (Orange County, CA)

The Orange County Register ^ | Friday, December 10, 2004 | By JAMES B. KELLEHER

[So Cal Rocket]

Orange County’s unemployment picture improved dramatically in November, with the local jobless rate falling to its lowest level in three-and-a-half years as builders, hotels and restaurants, and accountants, lawyers and other professional service providers added to their payrolls.

As a result, the county’s unemployment rate fell to 2.9 percent last month, the state Employment Development Department said today, its lowest level since May 2001 and down from 3.6 percent a year ago. The number of officially unemployed people in the county also fell to a three-and-a-half-year low of 46,900.

California’s labor market improved last month as well, the EDD said. The state’s jobless rate fell to 5.7 percent in November, its lowest point since September 2001, and down from 6.6 percent in November 2003.

[So Cal Rocket]

This low unemployment rate is becoming a problem for many employers trying to add staff... We can't get offers out fast enough - before someone else nabs a good candidate, or when we do, their current employer makes a great counteroffer.

[cmsgop]

You can make me an offer!

[Clemenza]

I thought OC had an endless supply of Mexicans and Asians? I thought that native-born Americans were being forced out of California because they couldn't find jobs? I thought Southern California was a third world cesspool with a high unemployment rate? /sarcasm

[Clemenza]

One problem with relocating to OC: housing costs. There is not a chance in hell that I, as a young professional, would take a job down there only to wind up commuting from the Inland Empire.

[So Cal Rocket]

Are you CATIA 5 certified?

[muleskinner]

And STILL no pro football team...

[muleskinner]

Lockheed?

[ConservativeAgenda]

The housing costs are outrageous but today is DECEMBER 10TH and it's going to be 80 degrees without a cloud in the sky today!

[cmsgop]

Dam! I am only Shih-Tzu 2.0 Certified!

[Dubya-M-Dees]

Job reports in my area (Central Virginia) were recently posted, and for the three county area where I live, the rate was actually below 2%, indicating a SHORTAGE OF WORKFORCE!!

[the invisib1e hand]

the "bad" thing about a killer economy is that it's a vacuum for immigrants. if that's a bad thing.

[bayourod]

Anything below 4.5% is considered dangerous. Shortages and inflation will follow.

[TheDon]

That is a big problem in So Cal in general. Your standard middle class house is running at, or above, $500K. Houses have typically been sold before they get listed.

[Tempest]

I have experience with Autocad, Protel, and and Pro-E.

[American Infidel]

It's all Bush's fault.

[Grampa Dave]

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Hey I know what that is...

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

ROFL!!

Nice Graphic....

[Tealc]

First one to post pic(s) from the show gets a free zot. :)