Unemployment rate up in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, May 16, 2008 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- -- The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the Los Angeles area rose to 5.9 percent in April, official statistics showed on Friday.

The April unemployment rate was up from the 5.8 percent rate in March, and above the 4.9 percent in April 2007, according to the Employment Development Department.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in California was 6.2 percent in April, the same rate as March and up from 5.2 percent in April 2007.

The comparable estimates for the nation were 5 percent in April, 5.1 percent in March and 4.5 percent in April 2007.

Between March and April, total nonfarm employment grew by 700 to more than 4.1 million in the Los Angeles area. The largest gains were recorded in the leisure and hospitality industries -- a usual increase associated with the spring tourist season.

A total of 296,000 people were unemployed in April in the Los Angeles area, which has a labor force of nearly 5 million.

Statewide, more than 1.1 million people were out of work -- down slightly from March.

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