The U.S. unemployment rate increased in July to 6.2 percent.
In July 2013, the unemployment rate was 9.0 percent. The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,500 California households.
Nonfarm jobs in California totaled 15,492,500 in July, an increase of 27,700 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, July 2013 to July 2014, shows an increase of 323,600 jobs (up 2.1 percent).
EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT IN CALIFORNIA
The federal survey of households, done with a smaller sample than the survey of employers, shows a decrease in the number of employed people. It estimates the number of Californians holding jobs in July was 17,209,000, a decrease of 31,000 from June 2014, but up 283,000 from the employment total in July of last year. The number of people unemployed in California was 1,371,000 – down by 8,000 over the month, and down by 306,000 compared with July 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 15,492,500 in July, a net gain of 27,700 jobs since the June survey. This followed a gain of 16,200 jobs (as revised) in June.
Eight categories (mining and logging; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; professional and business services; educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; other services; and government) added jobs over the month, gaining 37,300 jobs. Educational and health services posted the largest increase over the month, adding 10,900 jobs.
Three categories (construction; information; and financial activities) reported job declines over the month, down 9,600 jobs. Construction posted the largest decrease over the month, down 6,400 jobs.
In a year-over-year comparison (July 2013 to July 2014), nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 323,600 jobs (up 2.1 percent).
Nine categories (mining and logging; construction; trade, transportation and utilities; information; professional and business services; educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; other services; and government) posted job gains over the year, adding 336,300 jobs. Professional and business services posted the largest gains on a numerical basis, adding 91,800 jobs (up 3.9 percent). Information posted the largest gains on a percentage basis, up 4.1 percent (adding 18,400 jobs).
Two categories (manufacturing and financial activities) posted job declines over the year, down 12,700 jobs. Financial activities posted the largest declines on both a numerical and percentage basis, down 11,200 jobs (a 1.4 percent decrease).
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS (NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)
In related data, the EDD reported that there were 426,224 people receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the July 2014 survey week. This compares with 418,927 last month and 510,998 last year. At the same time, new claims for Unemployment Insurance were 56,565 in July 2014, compared with 62,749 in June and 67,382 in July of last year.
