California July jobless rate declines 1.1 percent

California had the lowest number of people unemployed since June 2001 as its jobless rate declined by 1.1 points in July, to 5.1 percent, from 6.2 percent in July of last year, according state and federal reports released on Friday.

The state's jobless rate also declined 0.3 points from June's 5.4 percent, a decrease the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics described as "significant."

Santa Clara county's 5.5 percent July jobless rate was higher than the state average, as were the counties of Monterey (5.4) and Alameda (5.3). San Mateo county's jobless rate was 4.4 percent. San Francisco and Santa Cruz rates matched the state average.

The national unemployment rate was 5 percent in July.

The state's gain of 29,900 jobs in July was the second biggest in the country. Florida was the biggest with 42,400 jobs added in the month.

The 16.9 million Californians working in July is a record high number.

The sectors in the state that grew year-to-year were contruction, trade, transportation and utilities, information, financial activities, professional and business services, educational and health services, leisure and hospitality, other services and government.

The number of mining and manufacturing jobs dropped.