Reports

Last Economic Snapshot Prior to Effects of COVID-19; Preliminary Assessment of Sectors Most Affected By Ongoing Crisis

Unemployment Unchanged at 3.9%; Employment Up 27,500
Labor Force Participation Rate Level Up to 62.6%
Employment Growth Ranking
Nonfarm Jobs Up 21,400 for Month; California Remains at #2 for 12-month Gain
Jobs Change by Industry
Structural Shifts in State’s Economy
Unemployment Rates by Region (not seasonally adjusted)
MSAs with the Worst Unemployment Rates

Last Economic Snapshot Prior to Effects of COVID-19; Preliminary Assessment of Sectors Most Affected By Ongoing Crisis

Unemployment Unchanged at 3.9%; Employment Up 27,500
Labor Force Participation Rate Level Up to 62.6%
Employment Growth Ranking
Nonfarm Jobs Up 21,400 for Month; California Remains at #2 for 12-month Gain
Jobs Change by Industry
Structural Shifts in State’s Economy
Unemployment Rates by Region (not seasonally adjusted)
MSAs with the Worst Unemployment Rates

The latest new vehicle sales data from California New Car Dealers Association indicates that sales are still projected to be under 2 million units for the year, slipping below sales in the prior four years but still well above historical levels.  While slowing, this indicator reflects the level of overall consumer confidence and continuing strength of the recovery.  New vehicle sales are also a critical indicator of state and local revenues, with Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers (NAICS 441) producing 13% of total taxable sales in the most recent data for the first quarter in 2018.

Below are the monthly updates from the most current January 2020 fuel price data (GasBuddy.com) and November 2019 electricity and natural gas price data (US Energy Information Agency). To view additional data and analysis related to the California economy visit our website at www.centerforjobs.org/ca.

Unemployment Unchanged at 3.9%; Employment Up 56,300
Labor Force Participation Rate Level Up to 62.4%
Employment Growth Ranking
Nonfarm Jobs Up 12,600 for Month; California Remains at #2 for 12-month Gain
Jobs Change by Industry
Structural Shifts in State’s Economy
Unemployment Rates by Region (not seasonally adjusted)
Unemployment Rates by Legislative District
Employment Growth by Region
MSAs with the Worst Unemployment Rates
Chart of the Month: End of Year Review

Unemployment Unchanged at 3.9%; Employment Up 53,700
Labor Force Participation Rate Level Up to 62.2%
Employment Growth Ranking
Nonfarm Jobs Up 28,400 for Month; California Dips to #2 for 12-month Gain
Jobs Change by Industry
Structural Shifts in State’s Economy
Unemployment Rates by Region (not seasonally adjusted)
Unemployment Rates by Legislative District
Employment Growth by Region
MSAs with the Worst Unemployment Rates
Chart of the Month: County GDP

The latest new vehicle sales data from California New Car Dealers Association indicates that sales are still projected to be under 2 million units for the year, slipping below sales in the prior four years but still well above historical levels.  While slowing, this indicator reflects the level of overall consumer confidence and continuing strength of the recovery.  New vehicle sales are also a critical indicator of state and local revenues, with Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers (NAICS 441) producing 13% of total taxable sales in the most recent data for the first quarter in 2018.

Unemployment Dips to Record Low of 3.9%; Employment Up 50,000
Labor Force Participation Rate Level at 62.1%
Employment Growth Ranking—California Drops Back to 50th Highest
Nonfarm Jobs Up 21,300 for Month; California Remains Ranked #1 for 12-month Gain
Jobs Change by Industry
Structural Shifts in State’s Economy
Unemployment Rates by Region
Unemployment Rates by Legislative District
Employment Growth by Region
MSAs with the Worst Unemployment Rates
Chart of the Month: Disparate Pattern of the Economic Recovery in California

Unemployment Dips to Record Low of 4.0%; Employment Up 38,000
Labor Force Participation Rate Level at 62.0%
Employment Growth Ranking—California Ranked 50th
Nonfarm Jobs Up 21,300 for Month; California Remains Ranked #1 for 12-month Gain
Jobs Change by Industry
Structural Shifts in State’s Economy
Unemployment Rates by Region
Unemployment Rates by Legislative District
Employment Growth by Region
MSAs with the Worst Unemployment Rates
Chart of the Month: State Level JOLTS Data

Unemployment Unchanged at 4.2%; Employment Down 45,300
Labor Force Participation Rate Dips to 62.2%
Employment Growth Ranking—California Drops to 9th
Nonfarm Jobs Up 46,200 for Month; California Remains Ranked #2 for 12-month Gain
Jobs Change by Industry
Structural Shifts in State’s Economy
Unemployment Rates by Region
Unemployment Rates by Legislative District
Employment Growth by Region
MSAs with the Worst Unemployment Rates
Chart of the Month: Economic Confidence

The latest new vehicle sales data from California New Car Dealers Association indicates that sales are still projected to be under 2 million units for the year, slipping below sales in the prior four years but still well above historical levels.  While slowing, this indicator reflects the level of overall consumer confidence and continuing strength of the recovery.  New vehicle sales are also a critical indicator of state and local revenues, with Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers (NAICS 441) producing 13% of total taxable sales in the most recent data for the first quarter in 2018.

Unemployment Unchanged at 4.2%; Employment Down 45,300
Labor Force Participation Rate Dips to 62.2%
Employment Growth Ranking—California Drops to 9th
Nonfarm Jobs Up 46,200 for Month; California Remains Ranked #2 for 12-month Gain
Jobs Change by Industry
Structural Shifts in State’s Economy
Unemployment Rates by Region
Unemployment Rates by Legislative District
Employment Growth by Region
MSAs with the Worst Unemployment Rates
Chart of the Month: Economic Confidence

Unemployment Unchanged at 4.2%; Employment Down 45,300
Labor Force Participation Rate Dips to 62.2%
Employment Growth Ranking—California Drops to 9th
Nonfarm Jobs Up 46,200 for Month; California Remains Ranked #2 for 12-month Gain
Jobs Change by Industry
Structural Shifts in State’s Economy
Unemployment Rates by Region
Unemployment Rates by Legislative District
Employment Growth by Region
MSAs with the Worst Unemployment Rates
Chart of the Month: Economic Confidence

Highlights for policy makers:
Unemployment Dips to 4.2%; Employment Down 39,400
Labor Force Participation Rate Dips to 62.4%
Labor Force by Age
Employment Growth Ranking—California Dips to 3rd
Nonfarm Jobs Up 19,400 for Month; California Remains Ranked #2 for 12-month Gain
Jobs Change by Industry
Structural Shifts in State’s Economy
Unemployment Rates by Region
Unemployment Rates by Legislative District
Employment Growth by Region
MSAs with the Worst Unemployment Rates
Chart of the Month: $15 Minimum Wage

The latest new vehicle sales data from California New Car Dealers Association indicates that sales are now projected to be above 1.9 million units for the year.  Although slowing 4% from the prior year, this indicator reflects the level of overall consumer confidence and continuing strength of the recovery. New vehicle sales are also a critical indicator of state and local revenues, with Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers (NAICS 441) producing 13% of total taxable sales in the most recent data for the first quarter in 2018.

• Light truck market share in the quarter was down marginally to 56.1%, compared to 57.3% in Q4 2018 and 53.6% in Q1 2018.

• Consumer shifts to light trucks for the US outside California similarly showed only a marginal change, accounting for 69.9% of new light vehicle sales. The potential for California’s ZEV policies to be replicated beyond its borders remains low as the market segment targeted by most Plug-in Electric Vehicle (PEV) models—cars—continues to remain low as a result of consumer preferences.

• The average California price for regular gas in Q1 2019 was $3.34 a gallon, the same as the year prior.