The Center for Jobs and the Economy has released our initial analysis of the September Employment Report from the California Employment Development Department. For additional information and data about the California economy visit www.centerforjobs.org/ca. Comparisons across states will be addressed in our full jobs report following release of the data by US Bureau of Labor Statistics on the 22nd.
Mixed Results Again in the September Data
The September numbers were positive but again at relatively modest levels. Nonfarm jobs rose by 14,700 in the preliminary results, below the overall average of 22,100 over the previous 12 months and only 5.8% of the total national gain of 254,000. Nonfarm jobs in August were revised from a modest gain of 6,800 to a loss of 1,200.
The unemployment rate remained level at 5.3%. Total employment rose only 2,100 over the month and only by 6,300 since September 2023. Increasing by 11,400 for the month and by 64,100 over the past 12 months, the number of unemployed again was above 1 million mark for the 9th month in a row, posting the worst levels since the pandemic months in 2021.
California Labor Force
Rate
California’s reported unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) was unchanged at 5.3%. The US rate continued dipping by 0.1 point to 4.1%.
Employment
Employment rose by 2,100 (seasonally adjusted), with the total employment loss since the previous peak in May 2023 at 77,400.
US employment rose by 430,000.
California unemployment rose by another 11,400, while US unemployment dropped by 281,000. California unemployment has been above 1 million for the past 9 months in a row, the highest levels since the pandemic period in 2021.
Nonfarm Jobs
Change
Nonfarm wage and salary jobs rose 14,700 in the preliminary results for September, while the August gains were lowered by 8,000 to a loss of 1,200.
For the US as a whole, nonfarm jobs rose by 254,000 in August.
Again reflecting the increasing dependence of California jobs on government spending rather than the private sector, job gains were led by Healthcare & Social Assistance (8,900) and Government (3,800). Industries posting job losses were led by Arts, Entertainment & Recreation (-3,700) and Information (-2,400).
Counties with Double-Digit Unemployment
Unemployment Above
10%
The number of counties with an unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) at 10% or more dipped to only 1. The unadjusted rates ranged from 3.5% in San Mateo to 19.2% in Imperial.
