The U.S. unemployment rate was unchanged in February at 4.9 percent.
In January, the state’s unemployment rate was 5.7 percent, and in February 2015, the unemployment rate was 6.7 percent. The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,500 California households.
Nonfarm jobs in California totaled 16,310,000 in February, an increase of 39,900 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, February 2015 to February 2016, shows an increase of 451,600 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 February was 17,992,000, an increase of 62,000 from January, and up 331,000 from the employment total in February of last year.
The number of people unemployed in California was 1,053,000 – down by 36,000 over the month, and down by 207,000 compared with February 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 16,310,000 in February, a net gain of 39,900 jobs since the February survey. This followed a loss of 4,000 jobs (as revised) in January.
Five categories (construction; information; educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; and other services) added jobs over the month, gaining 51,900 jobs. Leisure and hospitality posted the largest increase over the month, adding 18,300 jobs.
Four categories (trade, transportation and utilities; financial activities; professional and business services; and government) reported job declines over the month, down 12,000 jobs. Two categories (mining and logging and manufacturing) were unchanged over the month.
In a year-over-year comparison (February 2015 to February 2016), nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 451,600 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 457,300 jobs. Educational and health services posted the largest gains on a numerical basis, adding 102,700 jobs (up 4.3 percent). Construction posted the largest gains on a percentage basis, up 7.6 percent (adding 53,800 jobs).
Two categories (mining and logging and manufacturing) posted job declines over the year, down 5,700 jobs. Mining and logging posted the largest decreases on both a numerical and percentage basis, down 3,300 jobs (an 11.0 percent decrease).
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS (NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)
In related data, the EDD reported that there were 388,417 people receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the February survey week. This compares with 410,293 in January and 426,874 in February of last year. At the same time, new claims for Unemployment Insurance were 42,281 in February, compared with 53,682 in January and 43,302 in February of last year.
Source: EDD
