Unemployment in the city of Long Beach rose to 9.6% in November, amounting to more than 23,000 residents out of work, according to data released today by the State of California Labor Market.  The numbers mark a 0.5% rise after October’s rate of 9.1% unemployment.

Long Beach’s numbers are higher than current unemployment rates in the county, state (8.4%) and nation (6.7%).  Los Angeles County’s unemployment rate in November was 8.9%, up drastically from 5.3% in November of 2007.  In the County, industries that have been hit the hardest recently have been arts, hospitality and manufacturing – though there were significant increases in government (most in the local sectors) and entertainment production jobs.

We’ll post more information as we learn it.

By Ryan ZumMallen, Managing Editor