California added 28,300 jobs in May, but many of the jobs were temporary census jobs. The state lost jobs in construction, trade and the education and health services sector. Economists warn that the job losses signal that the recession is not over, pointing to a lack of improvement in the private sector. The unemployment rate fell to 12.4%, and the labor force grew by 27,000 as previously discouraged workers rejoined those looking for work. Other economists also point to the large number of those employed part-time due to the economy. If those workers are added to the unemployment rate, it rises to 21.9%. The state added around 30,000 government jobs, mainly census work.
See "California unemployment report fosters doubts on recovery", Alana Semuels, Los Angeles Times, June 20, 2010