The U.S. unemployment rate was unchanged in December at 4.1 percent, while the nation’s employers added 148,000 nonfarm payroll jobs.
In December 2016, the state’s unemployment rate was 5.2 percent. The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,100 California households.
Nonfarm payroll jobs in California totaled 16,980,400 in December, 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, December 2016 to December 2017, shows an increase of 342,500 jobs (up 2.1 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 December was 18,548,000, an increase of 39,000 from November, and up 383,000 from the employment total in December of last year.
The number of unemployed Californians was 839,000 in December – down by 46,000 over the month, and down by 160,000 compared with December of last year.
PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT DETAIL (SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)
EDD’s payroll employment report (wage and salary jobs) in the nonfarm industries of California totaled 16,980,400 in December, a net gain of 52,700 jobs from November. This followed a revised gain of 53,700 jobs in November.
Month-over Job Gains
Nine of California’s eleven industry sectors added a total of 56,900 jobs in December. Government posted the largest jobs increase with a gain of 10,300 jobs, followed by leisure & hospitality, up 10,100. Four additional industry sectors added 6,600 or more jobs in December: professional and business services (8,700), information (8,300), construction (7,000), and financial activities (6,600). Manufacturing (3,000), other services (1,600), and educational and health services (1,300). Month-over Job Losses
Two industry sectors reported job declines over the month, down a total of 4,200 jobs. Trade, transportation and utilities posted the largest decrease over the month, down 3,800 jobs, followed by mining and logging, down 400 jobs.
Year-over Job Gains
In a year-over-year comparison (December 2016 to December 2017), nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 342,500 jobs (a 2.1 percent increase).
Nine of California’s eleven industry sectors added a total of 345,900 jobs over the year. The largest job gains were in educational and health services, up 80,000 jobs (a 3.1 percent increase), leisure and hospitality, up 62,700 jobs (a 3.3 percent increase), and construction, up 56,000 jobs (a 7.1 percent increase). Other sectors adding jobs over the year were government, professional and business services, information, other services, trade, transportation and utilities and financial activities.
Year-over Job Losses
Two industry sectors posted job declines over the year, down a total of 3,400 jobs. Manufacturing fell by 2,000 jobs (down 0.2 percent), and mining and logging declined by 1,400 jobs (down 5.9 percent).
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS (NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)
In related data, the EDD reported that there were 351,959 people receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the December survey week. This compares with 256,961 in November and 367,944 in December of last year. At the same time, new claims for Unemployment Insurance were 45,447 in December, compared with 36,177 in November and 52,953 in December of last year.
Source: EDD
