The above chart shows the worst 25 job markets in the U.S. as measured by the unemployment rate in metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). The data is as of February 2009 (the most current information available). Nine of the worst 10 job markets are in California. It seems to me that a large portion of California is in a depression (based on employment). This chart represents offical unemployment numbers. When you add in the underemployed and those that have dropped out of the labor force (but want a job) the unemployment numbers roughly double (based on national calculations).
Data Source:
> Bureau of Labor Statistics
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