The U.S. unemployment rate increased in January to 5.7 percent.
In December 2014, the state’s unemployment rate was 7.1 percent, and in January 2014, the unemployment rate was 8.1 percent. The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,500 California households.
Nonfarm jobs in California totaled 15,928,000 in January, an increase of 67,300 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, January 2014 to January 2015, shows an increase of 498,000 jobs (up 3.2 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 January was 17,620,000, an increase of 54,000 from December 2014, and up 441,000 from the employment total in January of last year.
The number of people unemployed in California was 1,316,000 – down by 31,000 over the month, and down by 194,000 compared with January 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 15,928,000 in January, a net gain of 67,300 jobs since the December survey. This followed a gain of 19,800 jobs (as revised) in December.
Eight categories (construction; trade, transportation and utilities; information; financial activities; professional and business services; educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; and government) added jobs over the month, gaining 72,300 jobs. Information posted the largest increase over the month, adding 14,000 jobs.
Three categories (mining and logging; manufacturing; and other services) reported job declines over the month, down 5,000 jobs. Manufacturing posted the largest decrease over the month, down 4,200 jobs.
In a year-over-year comparison (January 2014 to January 2015), nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 498,000 jobs (up 3.2 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 498,300 jobs. Professional and business services posted the largest gains on numerical basis, adding 111,900 jobs (up 4.7 percent). Construction posted the largest gains on a percentage basis, up 5.7 percent (adding 37,800 jobs).
One category, mining and logging, posted job declines over the year, down 300 jobs (a 1.0 percent decrease).
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS (NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)
In related data, the EDD reported that there were 397,142 people receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the January 2015 survey week. This compares with 436,034 in December and 495,273 in January of last year. At the same time, new claims for Unemployment Insurance were 40,989 in January 2015, compared with 47,858 in December and 73,040 in January of last year.
