04/24/2024

Reports » Job Reports

October 2014

Highlights for policy makers:

Unemployment Rate Remains Constant at 7.3%; Total Employment Climbs 89,800

The Labor Force data for October 2014 (seasonally adjusted; California preliminary) is shown below, along with the change from the prior month:

Seasonally Adjusted California US

Oct 2014 Change from Sep 2014 Oct 2014 Change from Sep 2014
Unemployment Rate 7.3 0 5.8 -0.1
Labor Force 18,757,100 0.5% 156,278,000 0.3%
Participation Rate 62.3 0.2 62.8 0.1
Employment 17,396,400 0.5% 147,283,000 0.5%
Unemployment 1,360,600 -0.1% 8,995,000 -2.9%

Source: California Employment Development Department; US Bureau of Labor Statisticss

The related not seasonally adjusted numbers (California preliminary), with the change from October 2013:

Not Seasonally Adjusted California US

Oct 2014 Change From Oct 2013 Oct 2014 Change From Oct 2013
Unemployment Rate 7.0 -1.5 5.5 -1.5
Labor Force 18,841,70 1.5% 156,616,000 1.1%
Participation Rate 62.6 0.3 63.0 0.1
Employment 17,529,000 3.3% 147,936,000 2.6%
Unemployment 1,312,700 -17.0% 8,680,000 -19.4%

Source: California Employment Development Department; US Bureau of Labor Statistics

California Employment Development Department’s (EDD) latest release shows on a seasonally adjusted basis, total employment grew by 89,800, while the number of unemployed dropped by only 1,300. California’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained constant at 7.3%. The unadjusted rate increased from 6.9% in September 2014 to 7.0% in October 2014.

By comparison, total US employment grew 2.6% (seasonally adjusted increase of 683,000), while the number of unemployed decreased even more sharply by 2.9% (seasonally adjusted decrease of 267,000).

California’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate now stands 26% higher than the national rate. California had the 5th highest unemployment rate among the states.

Between October 2013 and October 2014, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data shows the total number of employed increased by 556,022 (not seasonally adjusted). This increase was the highest among the states, ahead of Texas (399,074) and Florida (340,193). Adjusted for population size, California had the 15th highest employment increase (18.5 additional employed per 1,000 population), with DC (38.4 per 1,000 population), Colorado (31.2 per 1,000 population), and North Dakota (29.1 per 1,000 population) in the leading slots.

Labor Force Participation Rate Remains at 1976 Levels

The state’s seasonally adjusted labor force participation rate of 62.3% ticked upward for the 2nd month in a row, but still remains at levels last seen in 1976.

1/5 of Total Employed in Part Time Work

The percentage of part time workers increased slightly to 20.2% of total employment, with 7.1% working part time for economic reasons (primarily the lack of full time jobs).

California (%) US (%)
Oct 2014 Sep 2014 Oct 2014 Sep 2014
Total Part Time Employed 20.2 20.1 18.3 18.3
Part Time Employed for Economic Reasons 7.1 7.1 5.1 5.1

Source: California Employment Development Department; US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 12-month moving average

Nonfarm Jobs Increase 41,500

EDD reported that between September and October 2014, seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 41,500. Not seasonally adjusted, nonfarm payroll jobs grew by 156,800.

Looking at the not seasonally adjusted numbers, the change in nonfarm payroll jobs from September 2014 saw the largest increases in Government (76,200), Educational Services (28,700), Retail Trade (19,600), and Health Care & Social Assistance (14,300). Biggest declines were in Manufacturing (-9,800), Accommodation & Food Services (-3,400), Arts, Entertainment & Recreation (-1,800), and Real Estate, Rental & Leasing (-1,200).

Not Seasonally Adjusted Payroll Jobs Sep 2014 Oct 2014 Change Oct 2014 – Sep 2014 Change Oct 2014 – Oct 2013
Total Farm 462,600 439,100 -23,500 -100
Mining and Logging 32,700 32,200 -500 1,200
Construction 694,200 693,300 -900 38,800
Manufacturing 1,269,000 1,259,200 -9,800 4,200
Wholesale Trade 712,600 719,400 6,800 18,200
Retail Trade 1,614,600 1,634,200 19,600 21,800
Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities 518,200 521,500 3,300 10,600
Information 472,800 474,700 1,900 17,600
Finance and Insurance 512,100 513,700 1,600 -7,400
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 265,600 264,400 -1,200 3,200
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 1,183,700 1,194,100 10,400 40,600
Management of Companies and Enterprises 226,000 226,800 800 8,300
Administrative & Support & Waste Services 1,053,300 1,064,700 11,400 59,600
Educational Services 344,400 373,100 28,700 6,000
Health Care and Social Assistance 2,037,100 2,051,400 14,300 67,800
Individual and Family Services 534,900 540,700 5,800 19,900
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation 272,900 271,100 -1,800 2,200
Accommodation and Food Service 1,464,300 1,460,900 -3,400 43,300
Other Services 519,100 518,500 -600 -1,800
Government 2,320,700 2,396,900 76,200 8,500
Total Nonfarm 15,513,300 15,670,100 156,800 342,700
Total Wage and Salary 15,975,900 16,109,200 133,300 342,600

Source: California Employment Development Department

7 Industries Remain Below 2007 Pre-Recession Job Levels; 12 Above

Source: California Employment Development Department, Wage & Salary Jobs (seasonally adjusted), Average Weekly Wage (Q1 2014)

Comparing the number of jobs by industry in October 2014 (seasonally adjusted), 7 industries remain below the 2007 pre-recession levels and 12 are above. As indicated in the figure above, growth has been primarily in the lower wage and higher wage industries. Significant job growth in industries paying above $1,000 a week average wage has been limited to Professional, Scientific & Technical Services and Management of Companies & Enterprises. All other industries in this wage category remain near or significantly below the 2007 average employment levels.

8 Counties Remain in Double-Digit Unemployment, Up from 6 in September

Two-Tier Economy Persists

Unemployment rates and employment (all data is not seasonally adjusted) continue to vary widely across the state, with the spread between regions increasing to 1.98.

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rate (%) Oct 2014
California 7.0
Orange County 5.0
Bay Area 5.1
Central Coast 6.3
Sacramento Region 6.5
San Diego/Imperial 6.7
Central Sierra 7.1
Los Angeles 7.7
Upsate California 7.9
Inland Empire 8.1
Central Valley 10.0
Ratio of Highest to Lowest Rate 1.98

By County:

Lowest 3 Unemployment Rates

Marin County 3.9
San Mateo County 4.1
San Francisco County 4.3

Highest 3 Unemployment Rates

Colusa County 11.0
Tulare County 11.6
Imperial County 23.7

Ratio of Highest to Lowest Rate: 6.08

By Legislative District:

Lowest 10 Unemployment Rates

SD 13 (Hill – D) 4.0 AD 22 (Mullin – D) 3.8
SD 37 (Walters – R) 4.3 AD 16 (Buchanan – D) 4.0
SD 11 (Leno – D) 4.4 AD 74 (Mansoor – R) 4.0
SD 36 (Bates – R) 5.0 AD 73 (Harkey – R) 4.2
SD 39 (Block – D) 5.1 AD 24 (Gordon – D) 4.2
SD 07 (DeSaulnier – D) 5.2 AD 19 (Ting – D) 4.4
SD 02 (Evans – D) 5.3 AD 10 (Levine – D) 4.4
SD 15 (Beall – D) 5.3 AD 77 (Maienschein – R) 4.4
SD 10 (Corbett – D) 5.5 AD 17 (Ammiano – D) 4.5
SD 29 (Huff – R) 5.5 AD 68 (Wagner – R) 4.5

Highest 10 Unemployment Rates

SD 08 (Berryhill – R) 8.7 AD 53 (Perez – D) 9.2
SD 30 (Mitchell – D) 8.8 AD 59 (Jones-Sawyer – D) 9.3
SD 21 (Knight – R) 9.0 AD 36 (Fox – D) 9.9
SD 33 (Lara – D) 9.0 AD 13 (Eggman – D) 10.7
SD 35 (Wright – D) 9.0 AD 64 (Hall – D) 10.7
SD 24 (de Leon – D) 9.0 AD 32 (Salas – D) 10.9
SD 12 (Cannella – R) 9.5 AD 21 (Gray – D) 11.1
SD 05 (Galgiani – D) 9.7 AD 26 (Conway – R) 11.6
SD 40 (Hueso – D) 9.8 AD 31 (Perea – D) 11.8
SD 14 (Vidak – R) 12.2 AD 56 (Perez – D) 15.3

Ratio of Highest to Lowest Rate: Senate 3.07

2013 County & Regional Personal Income Data Available

The Economic Indicators have been updated with the 2013 County and Region personal income data, along with the revised data for 2001-2012 recently released by US Bureau of Economic Analysis.

The data shows the income side of California’s continuing two-tier economy. By County, all of the counties with the 5 highest Per Capita Personal Incomes are in the Bay Area. The ratio of counties with the highest to lowest Per Capita Income in 2013 was 3.15, improved from 3.43 in 2007.

County Per Capita Personal Income

2013 % Change from 2007
Marin County $97,124 7.3
San Francisco County $84,356 19.8
San Mateo County $79,893 11.1
Santa Clara County $70,151 17.4
Contra Costa County $63,403 10.7
California $47,401 9.8
US $44,543 11.9
Madera County $32,287 20.4
Imperial County $32,225 20.6
Merced County $31,935 14.1
Tehama County $31,810 20.3
Del Norte County $30,818 16.9
Ratio of Highest to Lowest Rate 3.15

Considered by region, the Per Capita Personal Income level tracks with employment, with the coastal employment centers showing the highest per capita incomes. The ratio of regions with the highest to lowest per capita personal incomes was 2.01 in 2013, up from 1.91 in 2007.

Regional Per Capita Personal Income

2013 % Change from 2007
Bay Area $66,375 13.6
Orange County $54,519 5.8
San Diego/Imperial $50,385 12.4
California $47,401 9.8
Central Coast $47,288 7.7
Los Angeles $46,954 12.7
Sacramento Region $46,653 12.6
US $44,543 11.9
Central Sierra $41,962 17.8
Upstate California $37,485 17.8
Central Valley $34,659 16.0
Inland Empire $33,025 8.2
Ratio of Highest to Lowest 2.01