The U.S. unemployment rate was unchanged in November at 4.1 percent, while the nation’s employers added 228,000 nonfarm payroll jobs.
In November 2016, the state’s unemployment rate was 5.3 percent. The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,100 California households.
Nonfarm payroll jobs in California totaled 16,921,400 in November, according to a survey of businesses that is larger and less variable statistically. The survey of 71,000 California businesses measures jobs in the economy. The year-over change, November 2016 to November 2017, shows an increase of 288,300 jobs (up 1.7 percent).
EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT IN CALIFORNIA
The federal household survey, done with a smaller sample than the survey of employers, shows an increase in the number of employed Californians over the month and the year. It estimates the number of Californians holding jobs in November was 18,509,000, an increase of 102,000 from October, and up 351,000 from the employment total in November of last year.
The number of unemployed Californians was 884,000 in November – down by 69,000 over the month, and down by 123,000 compared with November of last year.
PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT DETAIL (SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)
EDD’s payroll employment report (wage and salary jobs) in the nonfarm industries of California totaled 16,921,400 in November, a net gain of 47,400 jobs from October. This followed a revised gain of 45,400 jobs in October.
Month-over Job Gains
Nine of California’s eleven industry sectors added a total of 55,600 jobs in November. Educational and health services posted the largest jobs increase with a gain of 16,700 jobs, followed by leisure and hospitality, up 15,400 jobs, and professional and business services, up 13,700 jobs. Other sectors adding jobs over the month were construction, financial activities, manufacturing, other services, government, and mining and logging.
Month-over Job Losses
Two industry sectors reported job declines over the month, down a total of 8,200 jobs. Information posted the largest decrease over the month, down 4,200 jobs, followed by trade, transportation and utilities, down 4,000 jobs.
Year-over Job Gains
In a year-over-year comparison (November 2016 to November 2017), nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 288,300 jobs (a 1.7 percent increase).
Nine of California’s eleven industry sectors added a total of 292,400 jobs over the year. The largest job gains were in educational and health services, up 88,100 jobs (a 3.4 percent increase), leisure and hospitality, up 56,400 jobs (a 2.9 percent increase), and construction, up 48,400 jobs (a 6.2 percent increase). Other sectors adding jobs over the year were government; trade, transportation and utilities, other services, professional and business services, information, and financial activities.
Year-over Job Losses
Two industry sectors posted job declines over the year, down a total of 4,100 jobs. Manufacturing fell by 3,800 jobs (down 0.3 percent), and mining and logging declined by 300 jobs (down 1.3 percent).
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS (NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)
In related data, the EDD reported that there were 256,961 people receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the November survey week. This compares with 299,272 in October and 358,096 in November of last year. At the same time, new claims for Unemployment Insurance were 36,177 in November, compared with 42,114 in October and 54,252 in November of last year.
Source: EDD
