Top five in-demand jobs for each of 15 state regions are highlighted
September 7, 2020 - SACRAMENTO - This year, Labor Day unfolds against the backdrop of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Though the widespread economic effects of this event have resulted in record-setting job losses and unemployment, the Employment Development Department (EDD) has identified occupations in California’s current economy that are in demand and in need of workers. These pandemic-resistant occupations are being spotlighted in a special Labor Day 2020 online feature on EDD’s website.
“This historic pandemic has had devastating impacts on the economy in California and across the globe”, said EDD Director Sharon Hilliard. “But there are definitely industries providing valuable services during this pandemic that are in need of workers and the EDD wants to help Californians connect with these in-demand opportunities.”
As part of this outreach effort, EDD is releasing its annual Labor Day Briefing, which provides a status report of the state’s economy in 2020 along with industry sector trends and regional trends. In addition, the Briefing outlines which job occupations are currently in-demand in California according to the most online job advertisements over the sixty day period from June 13, 2020-August 11, 2020.
The EDD’s online Labor Day feature also includes the top in-demand occupations in California’s 15 economic regions where EDD and local workforce partners work to connect employers in need of skilled workers with job seekers in need of quality jobs.
These top in-demand occupations are broken down into three skill level tiers:
High-skill: requires a Bachelor’s Degree or higher
Middle-skill: requires some college, postsecondary certificate, or Associate’s Degree
Entry-level: requires a high school diploma, equivalent, or less
At the state level, Registered Nurses and Software Developers top the list of indemand jobs in the high-skill category - both featuring more than 14,000 recent job postings.
By far, the occupation that has seen steadiest growth for middle-skill workers during this pandemic and economic crisis is Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers, which has 9,669 job postings statewide and appears in the top five occupations of 13 of the 15 economic regions throughout California. The need for Medical Assistants comes in second in the middle-skill category.
As for entry-level jobs requiring a High School degree or lower, the need for Retail Salespersons and well as Sales Representatives for wholesale and manufacturing, except for technical and scientific products, lead the list with each featuring more than 14,000 job openings throughout the state.
EDD’s Labor Day website feature includes:
• The 2020 Labor Day Briefing which details current labor market conditions and economic outlook.
• Top 5 In-Demand Occupations for entry-level, middle, and high-skill workers for each of the 15 economic regions throughout the state:
Bay-Peninsula
Inland Empire
North Central Coast
San Joaquin Valley and Associated Counties
Capital
Los Angeles Basin
North Coast
Southern Border
East Bay
Middle Sierra
North State
Ventura
South Central Coast
North Bay
Orange
• America’s Job Center of CaliforniaSM Locations where job seekers and business owners can access local no-fee employment services and training resources (currently appointment-only due to the ongoing pandemic).
• A Toolbox for Job Seekers that provides a collection of resources to assist job seekers with job search, career exploration, and training needs.
Source: EDD
