New data from California’s Employment Development Department (EDD) reveals that the state continues to hold the highest unemployment rate in the nation at 5.3%. Despite several other states trailing closely behind, such as the District of Columbia (5.2%) and Nevada (5.1%), California’s unemployment crisis exceeds the national rate of 3.9%. Michael Bernick, former EDD director, identified key reasons for this ongoing problem. These include the struggles faced by small businesses due to increased costs and reduced consumer spending, continuing tech sector layoffs, and the conclusion of considerable federal and state pandemic relief spending. There was a slight increase of 5,200 nonfarm jobs in the state last month, bringing the total to 17.99 million. However, the annual increase of nonfarm jobs was only 1.2%, trailing behind the national increase of 1.8%.

Whether you’re unemployed yourself or know someone who is, it’s important to understand how to access the resources that are available. Through the EDD, Californians can access services such as Paid Family Leave and State Disability Insurance. However, with high volumes of calls and communications, it can be a challenge to get through to a live person. To address these concerns, a resource like eddcaller.com can be beneficial. This website provides information on the best times to call, tips on how to navigate the automated system, and how to get a hold of a representative quickly. Especially during challenging economic times, having access to these resources can make a significant difference.