The U.S. unemployment rate also decreased in January to 4.9 percent.
In December, the state’s unemployment rate was 5.9 percent, and in January 2015, the unemployment rate was 6.8 percent. The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,500 California households.
Nonfarm jobs in California totaled 16,272,600 in January, a decrease of 1,500 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-over-year change, January 2015 to January 2016, shows an increase of 444,900 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 January was 17,930,000, an increase of 52,000 from December, and up 295,000 from the employment total in January of last year.
The number of people unemployed in California was 1,089,000 – down by 35,000 over the month, and down by 189,000 compared with January 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 16,272,600 in January, a net loss of 1,500 jobs since the January survey. This followed a gain of 47,700 jobs (as revised) in December.
Seven categories (construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; information; educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; and government) added jobs over the month, gaining 25,400 jobs. Educational and health services posted the largest increase over the month, adding 9,500 jobs.
Four categories (mining and logging; financial activities; professional and business services; and other services) reported job declines over the month, down 26,900 jobs.
In a year-over-year comparison (January 2015 to January 2016), nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 444,900 jobs (up 2.8 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 449,400 jobs. Educational and health services posted the largest gains on a numerical basis, adding 100,700 jobs (up 4.2 percent). Construction posted the largest gains on a percentage basis, up 6.5 percent (adding 45,700 jobs).
One category, mining and logging, posted job declines over the year, down 4,500 jobs (a 14.5 percent decrease).
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS (NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)
In related data, the EDD reported that there were 410,293 people receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the January survey week. This compares with 393,350 in December and 397,142 in January of last year. At the same time, new claims for Unemployment Insurance were 53,682 in January, compared with 53,248 in December and 40,989 in January of last year.
