Over the last 22 years, the Sacramento area construction industry has historically gained 1,500 jobs from May to June. This June, the industry grew by 4,800 jobs.
"This month's change was nearly triple the average."
Justin Wehner with the state Employment Development Department
says construction also expanded by 2,000 jobs from a
year-ago.
"Construction has emerged from negative territory on a
year-over-year basis which hasn't happened since April
2007."
Other sectors that saw job growth last month include leisure,
hospitality, food services and retail. All totaled, the area gained
9,400 jobs. Still, unemployment increased.
Wehner says, with this being summer, there were a lot more
young people looking for work and not finding it.
"When you don't have enough jobs to provide to an influx
of people in the labor force you can have an uptick in the
unemployment rate despite there being a large job
increase."
The Sacramento area unemployment rate in June was 10.8%…an
increase from 10.4% in May.