The U.S. unemployment rate was unchanged in September at 5.1 percent.
In August, the state’s unemployment rate was 6.1 percent, and in September 2014, the unemployment rate was 7.3 percent. The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,500 California households.
Nonfarm jobs in California totaled 16,199,000 in September, an increase of 8,200 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, September 2014 to September 2015, shows an increase of 444,300 jobs (up 2.8 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 September was 17,884,000, an increase of 12,000 from August, and up 400,000 from the employment total in September of last year.
The number of people unemployed in California was 1,121,000 – down by 43,000 over the month, and down by 255,000 compared with September 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 16,199,000 in September, a net gain of 8,200 jobs since the August survey. This followed a gain of 42,000 jobs (as revised) in August.
Seven categories (construction; trade, transportation and utilities; information; professional and business services; leisure and hospitality; other services; and government) added jobs over the month, gaining 16,500 jobs. Government posted the largest increase over the month, adding 6,200 jobs.
Four categories (mining and logging; manufacturing; financial activities; and educational and health services) reported job declines over the month, down 8,300 jobs. Financial activities posted the largest decrease over the month, down 5,900 jobs.
In a year-over-year comparison (September 2014 to September 2015), nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 444,300 jobs (up 2.8 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 451,000 jobs. Professional and business services posted the largest gains on a numerical basis, adding 130,200 jobs (up 5.3 percent). Construction posted the largest gains on a percentage basis, up 6.4 percent (adding 43,900 jobs).
Two categories, mining and logging and manufacturing, posted job declines over the year, down 6,700 jobs. Manufacturing posted the largest decreases on a numerical basis, down 3,500 jobs (-0.3 percent). Mining and logging posted the largest declines on a percentage basis, decreasing 10.1 percent (down 3,200 jobs).
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS (NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)
In related data, the EDD reported that there were 343,419 people receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the September survey week. This compares with 367,255 in August and 392,823 in September of last year. At the same time, new claims for Unemployment Insurance were 40,821 in September, compared with 43,332 in August and 52,279 in September of last year.
Source: EDD
