The U.S. unemployment rate also increased in May to 5.5 percent.
In April, the state’s unemployment rate was 6.3 percent, and in May 2014, the unemployment rate was 7.6 percent. The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,500 California households.
Nonfarm jobs in California totaled 16,054,100 in May, an increase of 54,200 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, May 2014 to May 2015, shows an increase of 465,700 jobs (up 3.0 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 May was 17,813,000, an increase of 59,000 from April, and up 487,000 from the employment total in May of last year.
The number of people unemployed in California was 1,212,000 – up by 12,000 over the month, but down by 220,000 compared with May 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 16,054,100 in May, a net gain of 54,200 jobs since the April survey. This followed a gain of 17,200 jobs (as revised) in April.
Five categories (construction; trade, transportation and utilities; professional and business services; educational and health services; and leisure and hospitality) added jobs over the month, gaining 62,700 jobs. Professional and business services posted the largest increase over the month, adding 21,300 jobs.
Six categories (mining and logging; manufacturing; information; financial activities; other services; and government) reported job declines over the month, down 8,500 jobs. Information posted the largest decrease over the month, down 3,900 jobs.
In a year-over-year comparison (May 2014 to May 2015), nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 465,700 jobs (up 3.0 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 467,200 jobs. Professional and business services posted the largest gains on a numerical basis, adding 125,500 jobs (up 5.2 percent). Construction posted the largest gains on a percentage basis, up 6.9 percent (adding 46,600 jobs).
One category, mining and logging, posted job declines over the year, down 1,500 jobs (a 4.8 percent decrease).
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS (NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)
In related data, the EDD reported that there were 379,996 people receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the May survey week. This compares with 415,987 in April and 435,763 in May of last year. At the same time, new claims for Unemployment Insurance were 42,929 in May, compared with 47,462 in April and 53,388 in May of last year.
