April 16, 2016 - SACRAMENTO – California’s unemployment rate decreased to 5.4 percent in March, and nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 4,200 during the month for a total gain of 2,134,400 jobs since the recovery began in February 2010, according to data released on Friday by the California Employment Development Department (EDD) from two separate surveys.
The U.S. unemployment rate increased in March to 5.0 percent.
In February, the state’s unemployment rate was 5.5 percent, and in March 2015, the unemployment rate was 6.6 percent. The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,500 California households.
Nonfarm jobs in California totaled 16,320,900 in March, an increase of 4,200 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, March 2015 to March 2016, shows an increase of 420,800 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 March was 18,038,000, an increase of 46,000 from February, and up 350,000 from the employment total in March of last year.
The number of people unemployed in California was 1,020,000 – down by 34,000 over the month, and down by 222,000 compared with March 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 16,320,900 in March, a net gain of 4,200 jobs since the March survey. This followed a gain of 46,600 jobs (as revised) in February.
Four categories (trade, transportation and utilities; financial activities; educational and health services; and government) added jobs over the month, gaining 22,600 jobs. Trade, transportation and utilities posted the largest increase over the month, adding 11,100 jobs.
Seven categories (mining and logging; construction; manufacturing; information; professional and business services; leisure and hospitality; and other services) reported job declines over the month, down 18,400 jobs. Construction posted the largest decrease over the month, down by 7,400 jobs.
In a year-over-year comparison (March 2015 to March 2016), nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 420,800 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 429,400 jobs. Educational and health services posted the largest gains on a numerical basis, adding 104,700 jobs (a 4.3 percent increase). Construction posted the largest gains on a percentage basis, up 5.6 percent (adding 39,600 jobs).
Two categories (mining and logging and manufacturing) posted job declines over the year, down 8,600 jobs. Manufacturing posted the largest decrease on a numerical basis, down 4,700 jobs (a 0.4 percent decrease). Mining and logging posted the largest decrease on a percentage basis, down 12.9 percent (a decrease of 3,900 jobs).
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS (NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)
In related data, the EDD reported that there were 420,502 people receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the March survey week. This compares with 388,417 in February and 464,530 in March of last year. At the same time, new claims for Unemployment Insurance were 44,305 in March, compared with 42,281 in February and 44,502 in March of last year.
Source: EDD
