July 20, 2018 - SACRAMENTO – For a third consecutive month, California’s unemployment rate held steady at 4.2 percent in June – remaining at a record low level in a series dating back to 1976 – while the state’s employers added 800 nonfarm payroll jobs, according to data released today by the California Employment Development Department (EDD) from two surveys. California has now gained a total of 2,902,400 jobs since the economic expansion began in February 2010.

The U.S. unemployment rate increased to 4.0 percent, while the nation’s employers added 213,000 nonfarm payroll jobs.

In June 2017, the state’s unemployment rate was 4.8 percent. The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,100 California households.

Nonfarm payroll jobs in California totaled 17,092,000 in June, 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, June 2017 to June 2018, shows an increase of 269,100 jobs (up 1.6 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 year. It estimates the number of Californians holding jobs in June was 18,527,000, a decrease of 9,000 from May, and up 151,000 from the employment total in June of last year.

The number of unemployed Californians was 814,000 in June – an increase of 6,000 over the month, and down by 112,000 compared with June of last year.

PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT DETAIL (SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)

EDD’s payroll employment report (wage and salary jobs) in the nonfarm industries of California totaled 17,092,000 in June, a net gain of 800 jobs from May. This followed a revised gain of 7,200 jobs in May.

Month-over Job Gains

Four of California’s eleven industry sectors added a total of 16,200 jobs in June. Educational and health services reported the largest increase with a gain of 8,000 jobs, followed by information (up 4,600), government (up 3,500) and professional and business services (up 100).

Month-over Job Losses

Seven of California industries reported job losses over the month. Leisure and hospitality reported the largest decrease with a loss of 4,000 jobs, followed by construction (down 2,900), trade, transportation and utilities (down 2,600) and financial activities (down 2,300). Other industries with job declines over the month were manufacturing, other services and mining and logging.

Year-over Job Gains

In a year-over-year comparison (June 2017 to June 2018), nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 269,100 jobs (a 1.6 percent increase).

Nine of California’s eleven industry sectors added a total of 272,800 jobs over the year. The largest job gains were in educational and health services, up 75,800 jobs (a 2.9 percent increase), professional and business services, up 42,200 (a 1.6 percent increase) and leisure and hospitality, up 41,700 (a 2.1 percent increase). Other sectors adding jobs over the year were construction, trade, transportation and utilities, government, information, manufacturing and financial activities.

Year-over Job Losses

Two industry sectors posted job declines over the year, other services, down a total of 3,400 jobs and mining and logging, down 300 jobs.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS (NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)

In related data, the EDD reported that there were 303,592 people receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the June survey week. This compares with 337,974 in May and 330,417 in June of last year. At the same time, new claims for Unemployment Insurance were 47,027 in June, compared with 41,762 in May and 46,876 in June of last year.



Source: EDD