Karen S. Kim
Local unemployment rates neither rose nor fell during May, making
it the third consecutive month the numbers remained unchanged.
Los Angeles County's unemployment rate has held at 6.5% since
March, as has Burbank's at 4.5%. Glendale's unemployment rate is
6.1%.
The trend is one that is in line with unemployment numbers in the
region and state, Glendale labor market specialist Don Nakamoto said.
"The rates are staying about the same or dropping slightly," he
said. "I think we're kind of in a transition period, where the
economy is beginning to come out of a recession and typically, the
unemployment rates are kind of a lagging indicator."
Yvette Ulloa, economic development manager for Burbank, said the
unchanging numbers were a positive sign.
"Because of a strong economy, we have been able to keep a steady
unemployment rate, which is only going to improve with time," she
said. "The U.S. economy grew by 5.8% in the first quarter of 2002
because businesses restocked their depleted inventories and consumers
continue to spend strongly. I think we have seen the same thing going
on in the city of Burbank."
Another reason why unemployment has not risen in recent months
might be the role Burbank's Workforce Connection program has played
since it opened in December. The job- and business-resource center
helps 600 clients a month, Ulloa said. Estimated numbers indicate
that 6,060 Glendale people were unemployed during May, while 2,520
Burbank people were out of work.
