Highlights for policy makers: Unemployment Rate Remains at 5.5%; Total Employment Up 90,900 Labor Force Participation Rate Improves to 62.8% State Employment Growth Rankings Nonfarm Jobs Increase 31,200 Four Industries below 2007 Pre-Recession Job Levels Two-Tier Economy Persists Seven California MSAs in the 10 Worst Unemployment Rates Nationally California in Full Employment? 3rd Quarter Housing Permits Down 1% 3rd Quarter Housing Prices 60.6% Above US Average
Highlights for policy makers: Unemployment Rate Remains at 5.5%; Total Employment Up 108,600 Labor Force Participation Rate Improves to 62.6% State Employment Growth Rankings Nonfarm Jobs Increase 30,000 Six Industries below 2007 Pre-Recession Job Levels Two-Tier Economy Persists Seven California MSAs in the 10 Worst Unemployment Rates Nationally Average Wage and Compensation Growth in 2015
Highlights for policy makers: Unemployment Rate Eases to 5.5%; Total Employment Rises 57,300 Labor Force Participation Rate Improves to 62.2% State Employment Growth Rankings Nonfarm Jobs Increase 63,100 Five Industries Below 2007 Pre-Recession Job Levels Two-Tier Economy Persists Eight California MSAs in the 10 Worst Unemployment Rates Nationally Broader Unemployment Measures Ease but Remain Above Pre-Recession Levels Farm Output Drops 14.3% in 2015
In February 2015, the Center completed a review of the many competing estimates of green jobs creation in California, entitled California Green Jobs: A Review of Current Estimates. As stated in that review, the policy interest in green jobs is not new to California.
The latest new vehicle sales data from California New Car Dealers Association shows continued but slowing growth in California’s purchases of new cars and trucks. Key findings from the data:
• Total light vehicle sales in 2016 Q2: 542,565. Up 1.8% from 2015 Q2.
• Market share, cars: 54.8%. Down from 59.3% in 2015 Q2.
• Market share, light trucks: 45.2%. Up from 40.7% in 2015 Q2.
• California average price per gallon regular gasoline, 2016 Q2: $2.81. Down from $3.50 in 2015 Q2.
Highlights for policy makers: Unemployment Rate Rises to 5.5%; Total Employment Up 35,500 Labor Force Participation Rate Improves to 62.1% State Employment Growth Rankings Nonfarm Jobs Increase 36,400 Five Industries Below 2007 Pre-Recession Job Levels Two-Tier Economy Persists Nine California MSAs in the 10 Worst Unemployment Rates Nationally New Housing Units Down 1.2% in Second Quarter
Highlights for policy makers: Unemployment Rate Rises to 5.4%; Total Employment Eases by 3,200 Labor Force Participation Rate Unchanged at 61.9% State Employment Growth Rankings Nonfarm Jobs Increase 40,300 Five Industries Below 2007 Pre-Recession Job Levels Two-Tier Economy Persists 8 California MSAs in the 10 Worst Unemployment Rates Nationally
Highlights for policy makers: Unemployment Rate Eases to 5.2%; Total Employment Edges Up 9,600 Broader Unemployment Measures Remain Above Pre-Recession Lows State Employment Growth Rankings Nonfarm Jobs Increase 15,200 Six Industries Below 2007 Pre-Recession Job Levels Two-Tier Economy Persists 8 California MSAs in the 10 Worst Unemployment Rates Nationally Manufacturing Remains Leading Source of Employment for Immigrants to California
As part of the AB 32 climate change program, Executive Order B-16-2012 administratively created a goal of 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) on California roads by 2025, with a sub-goal that their market share is expanding at that point.
• Sales of all light vehicles continue to increase, although at a decelerating rate. New vehicle registrations in 2016 Q1 were up 3.8% compared to 2015 Q1.
• As fuel prices have declined from the $4 a gallon level and higher in 2013 and 2014, consumers’ buying preferences have shifted back more to light trucks. Similar to the national pattern, new car registrations were down 2.0% in 2016 Q1, while light truck registrations were up 12.5%. Overall, market share for new cars declined from 63% at the beginning of 2013, to 56.6% in Q1 2016. Light trucks went from 37% to 43.4%.
• PEVs saw a small decline in market share, going to 2.8% in Q1 2016 vs. 3.0% in 2015 and the previous high of 3.2% in 2014.
• PEVs and Hybrids combined dropped to 7.6% in Q1 2016 compared to 8.8% in 2015 and the previous high of 9.5% in 2013. Rather than bringing in a wider base of customers, increased PEV sales in part are coming from a shift of the same customer base now willing to buy a PEV instead of a hybrid as additional models have become available.
• New PEV registrations increased only 572 from Q1 2015, to a total of 13,978.
Highlights for policy makers: Unemployment Rate Eases to 5.3%; Total Employment Rises 32,400 State Employment Growth Rankings Labor Force Participation Rate Unchanged at 62.0% Nonfarm Jobs Increase 32,400 Six Industries Below 2007 Pre-Recession Job Levels 8 Counties in Double-Digit Unemployment; 19 are 5% or Less Two-Tier Economy Persists 8 California MSAs in the 10 Worst Unemployment Rates Nationally Cost of Cost of Living Growing Faster in California County/Regional Employment by Industry Updates
Highlights for policy makers: Unemployment Rate Eases to 5.4%; Total Employment Rises 46,300 State Employment Growth Rankings Labor Force Participation Rate Unchanged at 62.0% Nonfarm Jobs Increase 4,200 Seven Industries Below 2007 Pre-Recession Job Levels 12 Counties Remain in Double-Digit Unemployment; 16 are 5% or Less Two-Tier Economy Persists 8 California MSAs in the 10 Worst Unemployment Rates Nationally All data used in this month’s report reflects the March 2015 benchmark revisions recently released by EDD and BLS, and labor force data for all geographic areas in the Center’s Data Tool and Indicators has been updated as well. These revisions affect previously reported data and related estimates beginning in 2010.
Highlights for policy makers: Unemployment Rate Declines to 5.5%; Total Employment Grows 62,400 Nonfarm Jobs Increase 39,900 Two-Tier Economy Persists
Highlights for policy makers: Unemployment Rate Declines to 5.7%; Total Employment Grows 52,400 Nonfarm Jobs Decrease 1,500 13 Counties in Double-Digit Unemployment; 13 are 5% or Less Two-Tier Economy Persists Annual Data Revisions
The recent release of the 2014 American Community Survey data provides an opportunity to gauge how California commuters have responded to this shifting policy. The data clearly reflects that even with the well-documented and rapidly rising costs of the state’s traffic congestion and costs associated with the deteriorating condition of the state’s roads, California workers continue to rely on single occupant vehicles for the primary mode of commuting. Moreover, their reliance on this mode of travel continues to grow both in absolute and relative terms.
Highlights for policy makers: Unemployment Rate Up Slightly to 5.8%; Total Employment Little Changed at -9,800 Labor Force Participation Rate Unchanged Nonfarm Jobs Increase 60,400 Six Industries Below 2007 Pre-Recession Job Levels 12 Counties in Double-Digit Unemployment; 12 are 5% or Less Two-Tier Economy Persists Bay Area Continues to Dominate Employment Growth Number of Latino and Asian Employers Increased by About One-Third from 2002 Data revisions