The U.S. unemployment rate decreased in August to 5.1 percent.
In July, the state’s unemployment rate was 6.2 percent, and in August 2014, the unemployment rate was 7.4 percent. The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,500 California households.
Nonfarm jobs in California totaled 16,185,100 in August, an increase of 36,300 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, August 2014 to August 2015, shows an increase of 470,000 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 August was 17,872,000, an increase of 12,000 from July, and up 425,000 from the employment total in August of last year.
The number of people unemployed in California was 1,163,000 – down by 17,000 over the month, and down by 222,000 compared with August 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 16,185,100 in August, a net gain of 36,300 jobs since the July survey. This followed a gain of 80,400 jobs (as revised) in July.
Seven categories (construction; trade, transportation and utilities; information; financial activities; educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; and government) added jobs over the month, gaining 56,200 jobs. Government posted the largest increase over the month, adding 31,300 jobs.
Four categories (mining and logging; manufacturing; professional and business services; and other services) reported job declines over the month, down 19,900 jobs. Professional and business services posted the largest decrease over the month, down 11,200 jobs.
In a year-over-year comparison (August 2014 to August 2015), nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 470,000 jobs (up 3.0 percent).
Nine categories (construction; 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 473,900 jobs. Professional and business services posted the largest gains on a numerical basis, adding 134,600 jobs (up 5.5 percent). Construction posted the largest gains on a percentage basis, up 6.5 percent (adding 43,800 jobs).
Two categories, mining and logging and manufacturing, posted job declines over the year, down 3,900 jobs. Mining and logging posted the largest decreases on a numerical and percentage basis, down 2,700 jobs (an 8.6 percent decrease).
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS (NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)
In related data, the EDD reported that there were 367,255 people receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the August survey week. This compares with 377,940 in July and 411,005 in August of last year. At the same time, new claims for Unemployment Insurance were 43,332 in August, compared with 45,435 in July and 47,640 in August of last year.
