Aug. 21--The California unemployment rate fell to 6.2% in July -- its lowest level in more than seven years -- and employers added a robust 80,700 net new jobs.
The uptick was bigger than in June, which saw a revised 22,300 added jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Nationwide, the jobless rate remained steady at 5.3% last month.
Since July 2014, the Golden State has added 494,300 net new jobs, a pace of 3.2% that outstrips the national average of 2.1%. A year ago, the state unemployment rate was 7.4%.
The professional and business services sector had the biggest month-over-month bump in jobs, adding 22,300 positions in July. Construction, which has boomed as the housing market has picked up, added 3,000 jobs. Other industries showing strong growth include leisure and hospitality, with 19,100 new jobs, and the trade, transportation and utilities sector, which added 8,400 positions.
The only major industry to shed jobs was government, with 1,100 positions lost. Mining and logging, which includes the struggling oil industry, was flat month-over-month.
