Unemployment Rate, Economist | featured news

Economists think some of the missing workers have retired, have entered college or are getting by on government disability checks.

Economists had expected the snowstorms to have a bigger impact, but job losses were surprisingly mild in February as employers cut 36,000 jobs.

Unemployment will top out this month at 12.7%, but the recovery will take years, UCLA economists say.

California's jobless rate is close to peaking, but the recovery will be sluggish, with employers not expected to resume hiring until at least next spring, according to new forecasts by UCLA and other analysts.