The state of California lost nearly 16,000 jobs last year due to the stumbling mortgage industry, by far the most of any other state, according to a survey released Monday by MortgageDaily.com.

The survey found that mortgage lenders cut more than 86,000 jobs nationwide in 2007 as demand for housing shrunk amid increased credit standards and a deteriorating credit market.

California suffered the most job cuts, with 15,933, mainly due to the strong presence of three of the nation’s largest subprime mortgage lenders (Calabasas-based Countrywide Financial Corp., Pasadena-based IndyMac Bancorp and Santa Monica-based Fremont General Corp.).

The states of New York, Arizona and Florida each also lost upwards of 2,000 jobs in the mortgage industry during the year, the survey said.

The report also said that nearly 150 mortgage companies shut their doors or closed down lines of businesses last year. That’s compared to 36 companies closing up shop or shuttering businesses in the previous five years combined.

“While more layoffs are anticipated for the mortgage sector during 2008, we expect the pace of job cuts to slow significantly,” MortgageDaily.com Publisher Sam Garcia said.

Countrywide eliminated nearly 12,000 jobs across the country last year, far more than any other company, the survey said.

Shares in Countrywide were hit hard Monday, shedding 9.3 percent to $7.64 while shares in Fremont and IndyMac both gained Monday, adding 2.6 percent to $3.17 and 1.3 percent to $6.35, respectively.