The U.S. unemployment rate was unchanged in November at 5.0 percent.
In October, the state’s unemployment rate was 5.8 percent, and in November 2014, the unemployment rate was 7.2 percent. The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,500 California households.
Nonfarm jobs in California totaled 16,258,000 in November, an increase of 5,500 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-overyear change, November 2014 to November 2015, shows an increase of 417,100 jobs (up 2.6 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 November was 17,910,000, an increase of 11,000 from October, and up 365,000 from the employment total in November of last year.
The number of people unemployed in California was 1,082,000 – down by 13,000 over the month, and down by 274,000 compared with November 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 16,258,000 in November, a net gain of 5,500 jobs since the October survey. This followed a gain of 40,600 jobs (as revised) in October.
Five categories (construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; educational and health services; and leisure and hospitality) added jobs over the month, gaining 20,500 jobs. Trade, transportation and utilities posted the largest increase over the month, adding 9,800 jobs.
Six categories (mining and logging; information; financial activities; professional and business services; other services and government) reported job declines over the month, down 15,000 jobs. Information posted the largest decrease over the month, down 9,300 jobs.
In a year-over-year comparison (November 2014 to November 2015), nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 417,100 jobs (up 2.6 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 424,300 jobs. Professional and business services posted the largest gains on a numerical basis, adding 116,000 jobs (up 4.7 percent). Construction posted the largest gains on a percentage basis, up 5.9 percent (adding 41,000 jobs).
Two categories, mining and logging and manufacturing, posted job declines over the year, down 7,200 jobs. Manufacturing posted the largest decreases on a numerical basis, down 4,300 jobs (a 0.3 percent decrease). Mining and logging posted the largest declines on a percentage basis, decreasing 9.3 percent (down 2,900 jobs).
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS (NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)
In related data, the EDD reported that there were 355,913 people receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the November survey week. This compares with 334,244 in October and 392,610 in November of last year. At the same time, new claims for Unemployment Insurance were 54,438 in November, compared with 46,203 in October and 60,211 in November of last year.
Source: EDD