California, Florida Had Biggest Job Losses in May, Labor Says

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Bloomberg

By Carlos Torres

(Bloomberg) -- California and Florida endured the biggest job losses in May, reflecting the slump in housing and slowdown in consumer spending.

The payroll count in California dropped by 10,900 last month, led by a 9,600 decline in construction jobs, the Labor Department reported today in Washington. Employers in Florida cut 6,000 workers, with payrolls in retail and wholesale trade and transportation dropping by 5,100.

Nationally, the jobless rate jumped by a half point to 5.5 percent last month, the biggest increase in more than two decades, the government reported earlier this month. Today's report showed unemployment increased in 49 states and the District of Columbia. Only Louisiana registered a drop.

Michigan's jobless rate surged to 8.5 percent in May from 6.9 percent the prior month, the biggest jump of any state. Rhode Island, Illinois, Mississippi and Tennessee also suffered increases of at least one percentage point.


Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aH_kQQN9a9Vk&refer=us

[Tutonic]

1. John McBush can say goodbye to all of the states

listed above. Red State Tennessee included. And just wait until November when the folks in Michigan will fondly recall 8.5 percent unemployment. We'll all be floating in a sea of toxic waste by then--so at least we won't have to worry about gas prices. Gee, thanks McBush, now that's change I can believe in.

[geomon666]

2. You would think that would be the case.

But I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it to happen.

[Stargleamer]

3. All the more reason to defeat the anti-gay marriage bill in Nov.

n/t

[Liberal_in_LA]

4. wow. All the big states