April 17, 2015 - SACRAMENTO – California’s unemployment rate decreased to 6.5 percent in March, and nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 39,800 during the month for a total gain of 1,860,700 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 March at 5.5 percent.
In February, the state’s unemployment rate was 6.7 percent, and in March 2014, the unemployment rate was 7.9 percent. The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,500 California households.
Nonfarm jobs in California totaled 15,982,000 in March, an increase of 39,800 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, March 2014 to March 2015, shows an increase of 481,900 jobs (up 3.1 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 March was 17,713,000, an increase of 45,000 from February, and up 457,000 from the employment total in March of last year.
The number of people unemployed in California was 1,223,000 – down by 53,000 over the month, and down by 250,000 compared with March 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 15,982,000 in March, a net gain of 39,800 jobs since the February survey. This followed a gain of 22,400 jobs (as revised) in February.
Seven categories (construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; professional and business services; educational and health services; other services; and government) added jobs over the month, gaining 48,800 jobs. Professional and business services posted the largest increase over the month, adding 16,900 jobs.
Four categories (mining and logging; information; financial activities; and leisure and hospitality) reported job declines over the month, down 9,000 jobs. Information posted the largest decrease over the month, down 3,200 jobs.
In a year-over-year comparison (March 2014 to March 2015), nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 481,900 jobs (up 3.1 percent).
Ten categories (construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; information; financial activities; professional and business services; educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; other services; and government) posted job gains over the year, adding 482,800 jobs. Professional and business services posted the largest gains on a numerical basis, adding 123,900 jobs (up 5.2 percent). Construction posted the largest gains on a percentage basis, up 6.9 percent (adding 46,300 jobs).
One category, mining and logging, posted job declines over the year, down 900 jobs (a 2.9 percent decrease).
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS (NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)
In related data, the EDD reported that there were 464,530 people receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the March survey week. This compares with 426,874 in February and 510,919 in March of last year. At the same time, new claims for Unemployment Insurance were 44,502 in March, compared with 43,302 in February and 52,755 in March of last year.
