The U.S. unemployment rate decreased in April to 5.4 percent.
In March, the state’s unemployment rate was 6.5 percent, and in April 2014, the unemployment rate was 7.8 percent. The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,500 California households.
Nonfarm jobs in California totaled 16,012,200 in April, an increase of 29,500 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, April 2014 to April 2015, shows an increase of 457,300 jobs (up 2.9 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 April was 17,755,000, an increase of 43,000 from March, and up 464,000 from the employment total in April of last year.
The number of people unemployed in California was 1,199,000 – down by 25,000 over the month, and down by 254,000 compared with April 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 16,012,200 in April, a net gain of 29,500 jobs since the March survey. This followed a gain of 40,500 jobs (as revised) in March.
Eight categories (mining and logging; construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; information; professional and business services; educational and health services; and government) added jobs over the month, gaining 35,900 jobs. Professional and business services posted the largest increase over the month, adding 14,500 jobs.
Three categories (financial activities; leisure and hospitality; and other services) reported job declines over the month, down 6,400 jobs. Financial activities posted the largest decrease over the month, down 2,800 jobs.
In a year-over-year comparison (April 2014 to April 2015), nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 457,300 jobs (up 2.9 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 458,100 jobs. Professional and business services posted the largest gains on a numerical basis, adding 119,500 jobs (up 5.0 percent). Construction posted the largest gains on a percentage basis, up 6.4 percent (adding 42,600 jobs).
One category, mining and logging, posted job declines over the year, down 800 jobs (a 2.6 percent decrease).
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS (NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)
In related data, the EDD reported that there were 415,987 people receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the April survey week. This compares with 464,530 in March and 481,018 in April of last year. At the same time, new claims for Unemployment Insurance were 47,462 in April, compared with 44,502 in March and 62,715 in April of last year.
