The California unemployment rate remained steady for the third month in a row, maintaining a constant 5.3 percent according to the Employment Development Department (EDD). The recent data showed that the state’s job gains were revised to 18,200 in April, reducing from the originally reported 28,300 for March 2024. Since April 2020, California has experienced a considerable increase in jobs, averaging 63,704 jobs created per month. Notably, there was a downturn in the Mother Lode area where unemployment rates decreased in April. Tuolumne County’s rate dipped from 5.7 percent to 5.5 percent, while Calaveras County decreased from 5.2 percent to 4.7 percent.

In California, five out of 11 industry sectors reported job gains in April, with Private Education and Health Services demonstrating the most significant month-over-month gain for the fourth consecutive month, generating 11,900 jobs. Praises were also due to the Trade, Transportation, and Utilities sectors, which added 5,100 jobs with particularly strong performance within the Truck Transportation and Couriers and Messengers industry groups.

Despite the overall positive trend, the Construction sector showed a notable decline, losing 6,000 jobs due to persistent inclement weather conditions disrupting construction projects across the state, the EDD reported. Despite this setback, the Construction sector has seen a net gain of 15,100 jobs over the year. When compared to the national average, California’s unemployment rate is higher, as the national rate increased to 3.9 percent from the previous month.

For those needing assistance with unemployment benefits, contacting EDD customer service can be achieved via the EDD website or by phone. You can also reach a human representative at EDD for specific inquiries about your benefit status or any issues that arise. For more information on how to get ahold of EDD customer service, you can visit resources such as eddcaller.com that provide comprehensive guidance on connecting with EDD representatives. Whether you need to check your payment status, switch from check to debit card, or have other concerns related to unemployment in California, these resources can serve as a useful guide.