High Unemployment Areas

The Panel funds training in high unemployment areas (HUA).

HUA training focuses on workers who have full-time jobs and fairly stable employment but earn low wages and lack the essential job skills necessary to improve their employment opportunities.

The Panel utilizes the Employment Development Department’s (EDD) Labor Market Information data to define HUAs as follows:

If State Average Unemployment Rate Is: High Unemployment Areas Are Defined As: 
 Less than 10% >>

Counties with an unemployment rate 25 percent higher than the State average.
OR
Sub-county areas containing large numbers of unemployed workers and having an unemployment rate 25 percent higher than the State average.

10% or Higher >>

Counties with an unemployment rate 15 percent higher than the State average.
OR
Sub-county areas containing large numbers of unemployed workers and having an unemployment rate 15 percent higher than the State average.