Reports

Total initial claims processed for the week of January 9 were up substantially in the state while easing in the rest of the US.

In California, initial claims in the regular program were down sharply 32.1% over the prior week, while the reauthorized PUA claims jumped just under 230%. In the national totals, regular claims were down 13.6%, while PUA claims rose 48.7% as California accounted for over half of the new claims. Combined, total claims were up 8.6% in California and eased 0.9% in the US.

Following passage of the second federal COVID assistance bill and stay-at-home orders in California, initial claims for the week of January 9 were up sharply in both the state and the rest of the US.

Below are highlights from the recently released trade data from the US Census Bureau and US Bureau of Economic Analysis. California origin exports—including both products produced in the state and products aggregated by exporting firms—remained below the 2019 levels. Origin imports—both products used in the state and aggregated by state-based importers for subsequent distribution to […]

Below are the monthly updates from the most current December 2020 fuel price data (GasBuddy.com) and October 2020 electricity and natural gas price data (US Energy Information Agency). While the state’s regulatory surcharge on fuels eased slightly in December, prices for other energy components continued to climb higher. The resulting high costs on housing, transportation, […]

Initial claims for the week of January 2 were down both in California and the rest of the US.

In California, initial claims in the regular program were down 5.2% over the prior week, while initial PUA claims were off more sharply by 26.4%. In the national totals, regular claims were up 9.2%, but were offset by a much deeper drop in PUA claims by 48.0%. PUA claims, however, likely were affected by their uncertain extension until final action on the COVID-relief bill at the end of December. Combined, total claims were down 9.0% in California and 6.2% in the US.

Initial claims for the week of December 26 were largely unchanged in California, while dropping sharply in the rest of the US.

In California, initial claims in the regular program were up 5.6% over the prior week, with those gains largely offset by a 22.1% drop in initial PUA claims. In the national totals, regular claims were down 3.6% and PUA claims down 22.3%. Combined, total claims were down only 0.7% in California and 9.5% in the US.

Highlights for policy makers:

COVID-19 and the State Economy
Employment: 1.410 Million Below Recovery
Labor Force Participation Rate Drops to 60.4%
Employment Growth Ranking
Nonfarm Jobs: 1.411 Million Below Recovery
Jobs Change by Industry
Unemployment Rates by Region (not seasonally adjusted)
Unemployment Rates by Legislative District (not seasonally adjusted)
How Far Back Has the Economy in Each County Been Pushed?
Employment Share by Region
MSAs with the Worst Unemployment Rates: Los Angeles Remains 6th Worst in Nation

Initial claims for the week of December 19 declined from the prior week’s rise, but returned to the generally upward trend experienced since the first week of November.

In California, initial claims in the regular program were down 23.5% over the prior week, contributing heavily to the 7.7% drop for the US overall. PUA claims were largely unchanged with a dip of 2.4% in the state, but showed a stronger drop of 12.5% for the US. Combined, total claims were down 19.4% in California and 9.3% in the US.

Initial claims continued to climb but more sharply during the week of December 5, as all but 6 counties were placed by the state under the most restrictive Tier 1 status—now all but 4 smaller mountain counties in the most recent state orders for December 8. The recent wave of “stay at home” orders is now shutting many businesses especially small businesses who had been able to partially reopen during this most critical cash flow part of their revenue year. Given the timing on the surveys used to estimate the jobs and employment numbers, the effects of this current round will not likely become apparent until the release of the December numbers scheduled for later in January.

Below are the monthly updates from the most current November 2020 fuel price data (GasBuddy.com) and September 2020 electricity and natural gas price data (US Energy Information Agency). The September data incorporates the final electricity data published for 2019, which affects the previously reported monthly averages and rankings which are all calculated on a 12-month […]

Below are highlights from the recently released trade data from the US Census Bureau and US Bureau of Economic Analysis. To view additional data and analysis related to the California economy visit our website at www.centerforjobs.org/ca. California origin exports—including both products produced in the state and products aggregated by exporting firms—showed further recovery but remained […]

Reversing the upward trend of the prior two weeks, Initial claims for the week of November 28 produced a significant drop both in California and the nation as a whole. In California, initial claims in the regular program were down 22.8% and PUA claims down by 6.1%. Nationally, regular program claims (not seasonally adjusted) dropped 14.6%, and PUA claims were down 9.5%. Combined, total initial claims dropped 19.9% in the state and 13.2% in the US.

Initial claims for the week of November 21 saw a continued rise, with total claims increasing about the same in California and in the national numbers. In California, initial claims in the regular program were up 5.8% and PUA claims up 9.5%. Nationally, regular program claims were up more strongly at 10.5% but were offset somewhat by a 2.5% decline in PUA claims. Combined, total initial claims rose 6.4% in the state and 6.6% in the US.

Highlights for policy makers:

COVID-19 and the State Economy
Employment: 1.265 Million Below Recovery
Labor Force Participation Rate Up at 61.6%
Employment Growth Ranking
Nonfarm Jobs: 1.470 Million Below Recovery
Jobs Change by Industry
Unemployment Rates by Region (not seasonally adjusted)
Unemployment Rates by Legislative District (not seasonally adjusted)
How Far Back Has the Economy in Each County Been Pushed?
Employment Share by Region
MSAs with the Worst Unemployment Rates: Los Angeles Sinks to 6th Worst in Nation

Initial claims for the week of November 14 were up, with total claims rising about the same in California and the US as a whole. Total initial claims in California rose 4.4% with initial claims in the regular program largely unchanged at a rise of only 0.4% but PUA claims up 26.3%. Nationally, regular program claims were up 2.5% and PUA claims up 8.1%. Combined, total initial claims rose 4.4% in the state and 4.1% in the US.