August 27, 2014 - SACRAMENTO – For the first time in seven years, California welcomes a Labor Day that shows a job market that is expanding. Not only has the state regained the 1.3 million jobs lost during the Great Recession, but the state’s employers are now adding new jobs to that total each month.

Since February 2010, when the economic recovery began, California has consistently outpaced the nation’s rate of job growth. Nearly 1.4 million jobs were added to California’s nonfarm payrolls, which grew at an annualized rate of 2.2 percent per year compared to 1.6 percent per year for the nation as a whole. California’s job growth accelerated over the last two years, and just since the end of 2011 California has added more than 1 million nonfarm payroll jobs and the state’s job growth rate (2.7 percent per year) during this time further exceeded the nation’s (1.8 percent per year).

The California Employment Development Department (EDD) commemorates this Labor Day by identifying the top groups of industries and job opportunities leading the way in this expanding economy. The EDD and its partners in the state’s workforce development system are committed to supporting this expansion by creating innovative and efficient programs for job seekers, and by working cooperatively with employers to match job training programs to meet an employer’s needs.

“California is helping lead the nation in solid job growth, which has enabled us to put the recession behind us,” said EDD Director Patrick W. Henning, Jr. “The EDD and our partners are working together to ensure widespread opportunity for job seekers in this expansion.”

“We’re talking with employers, learning about their needs and engaging them in designing training programs to fill those needs,” Henning continued. “We’re also strongly focused on identifying needs and opportunities on a regional basis, while coordinating with the education system to help Californians master the skills needed in our expanding and competitive economy.”

The EDD has created a special Labor Day 2014 page featuring the annual Labor Day Briefing as well as local data showing job projections broken down in eight regions of the state. The Labor Day Briefing summarizes the status of the state’s job market and trends propelling the job expansion, including:

• The professional and business industry sector leads the way in gains and projected continued growth with new jobs expected in management, scientific, and technical consulting services along with computer systems design.

• Opportunities in educational services and health care and social assistance, along with leisure and hospitality, will also be big contributors.

• Information about employment and unemployment trends in each region of the state is also included in the Briefing.

In addition, the special Labor Day website feature also highlights the jobs projected to be most in demand through 2020 on a state and regional basis, and includes valuable resources for interested Californians, including employees, job seekers, employers and researchers. The page includes:

• Lists of the Top Ten Industry Clusters, and top in-demand jobs associated with the leading industries on a state level as well as, broken down in eight economic regions of the state:
o Northern California
o San Francisco Bay Area
o San Joaquin Valley
o Sacramento Area
o Southern California
o Eastern Sierra
o Southern Border
o Coastal Region

• Top in-demand jobs with the level of education required, the median annual and hourly wages, and the number of recent online job advertisements for those jobs. Information about common skills and work activities for the occupations is also included; and A Toolbox for Job Seekers that offers a collection of resources for California’s job seekers to assist in their job search, career exploration, and training needs.

Since the official end of the recession, California’s nearly 1.4 million new nonfarm jobs represent an increase of 9.7 percent, which exceeded the national 7.2 percent increase in employment. Building on this expansion, for the first time the projected job openings showcased this Labor Day include the number of jobs expected to be created in an expanding economy, as well as anticipated replacement needs as the state faces the impact of baby boomer retirements.

Among highlights of top industry and job projections at the state level;
• Hospitality and Tourism Industry Cluster – in-demand jobs ranging from General and Operations Managers and Accountants and Auditors to Cooks.
• Retail Industry Cluster – needs for Pharmacists and Sales Managers to Truck Drivers and Retail Salespersons.
• Health Care Services Cluster – list of top jobs includes Medical and Health Services managers and Physical Therapists to Registered Nurses and Home Health Aides.

The EDD strongly encourages job seekers to take advantage of the job projection information, online toolbox of resources, and no-fee services offered through America’s Job Centers of California to identify and pursue the expanding job opportunities in California’s expanding economy. Visit the EDD website for more information at www.edd.ca.gov.