December 19, 2014 - SACRAMENTO – California’s unemployment rate decreased to 7.2 percent in November, and nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 90,100 during the month for a total gain of 1,529,500 jobs since the recovery began in February 2010, according to data released today by the California Employment Development Department (EDD) from two separate surveys.
The U.S. unemployment rate was unchanged in November at 5.8 percent.
In October, the state’s unemployment rate was 7.3 percent, and in November 2013, the unemployment rate was 8.4 percent. The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,500 California households.
Nonfarm jobs in California totaled 15,650,500 in November, an increase of 90,100 jobs over the month, according to a survey of businesses that is larger and less variable statistically. The survey of 58,000 California businesses measures jobs in the economy. The year-over-year change, November 2013 to November 2014, shows an increase of 344,100 jobs (up 2.2 percent).
EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT IN CALIFORNIA
The federal survey of households, done with a smaller sample than the survey of employers, shows an increase in the number of employed people. It estimates the number of Californians holding jobs in November was 17,467,000, an increase of 71,000 from October 2014, and up 474,000 from the employment total in November of last year.
The number of people unemployed in California was 1,355,000 – down by 6,000 over the month, and down by 209,000 compared with November of last year.
PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT DETAIL (SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)
EDD’s report on payroll employment (wage and salary jobs) in the nonfarm industries of California totaled 15,650,500 in November, a net gain of 90,100 jobs since the October survey. This followed a gain of 34,300 jobs (as revised) in October.
Eleven categories (mining and logging; construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; information; financial activities; professional and business services; educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; other services; and government) added jobs over the month, gaining 90,100 jobs. Trade, transportation and utilities posted the largest increase over the month, adding 19,000 jobs.
No categories reported job declines over the month.
In a year-over-year comparison (November 2013 to November 2014), nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 344,100 jobs (up 2.2 percent).
Nine categories (mining and logging; construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; information; financial activities; professional and business services; educational and health services; and leisure and hospitality) posted job gains over the year, adding 348,100 jobs. Professional and business services posted the largest gains on a numerical basis, adding 119,400 jobs (up 5.1 percent). Construction posted the largest gains on a percentage basis, up 6.3 percent (adding 40,800 jobs).
Two categories (other services and government) posted job declines over the year, down 4,000 jobs. Government posted the largest decline on a numerical basis, down 3,400 jobs (a 0.1 percent decrease).
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS (NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)
In related data, the EDD reported that there were 392,610 people receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the November 2014 survey week. This compares with 392,093 last month and 465,581 last year. At the same time, new claims for Unemployment Insurance were 60,211 in November 2014, compared with 52,788 in October and 72,642 in November of last year.
