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QUICK FACTS: California Employment Report for February 2024
 

The Center for Jobs and the Economy has released our initial analysis of the February Employment Report from the California Employment Development Department. For additional information and data about the California economy visit www.centerforjobs.org/ca.
 
February Data Shows Weak Results
 

The March labor force data in general produced weak results for the state.  Nonfarm jobs dipped by 3,400 over the month, while January’s strong preliminary numbers were revised down sharply from the initially reported 58,100 to 25,600, the lowest since last September and only 38% as high as the gain in January 2023.

Employment came in with yet another monthly loss, the 8th in the last 9 months.  Employment was off 20,100 for the month and a total of 120,200 in the current 9-month downward trend.  As unemployment also has grown in every month except one since September 2022, the unemployment rate rose to 5.3%, the highest among the states and DC and the highest in California since December 2021.
 
California Labor Force
 
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5.3%
 
CA Unemployment
Rate
 
  

California's reported unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) in February again rose 0.1 point, to 5.3% as employment continued to lose ground and the number of unemployed also grew.  The US rate weakened by 0.2 point to 3.9%.

California had the highest unemployment rate among the states and DC.
 
 
 
-20.1k
 
CA Employment
 
  

Employment dropped 20,100 (seasonally adjusted), with the total employment loss since May 2023 now at 120,200. 

US employment was also down, by 184,000. 

California unemployment rose 13,400, while US unemployment rose 334,000.  For the past 12 months, unemployment is up 165,400 in California, while rising 496,000 in the nation as a whole.
 
 
 
62.1%
 
CA Labor Force
Participation Rate
 
  

California labor force (seasonally adjusted) was essentially unchanged with a dip of only 8,600, while the labor force participation rate was level at 62.1%.  The US labor force rose 150,000, while the participation rate was unchanged at 62.5%.
 
 
Recovery Progress: CA Employment vs. Other States
 

Compared to the pre-pandemic peak in February 2020, California’s sustained weak employment recovery remained at the 3rd lowest among the states and DC.  Rather than moving towards recovery, total employment fell further to 265,900 below the pre-pandemic peak.
 
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Nonfarm Jobs
 
-3.4k
 
Nonfarm Jobs
Change
 
  

Nonfarm wage and salary jobs dipped 3,400 (seasonally adjusted), while the previously reported January gains were slashed by 32,500 to 25,600.

For the US, nonfarm jobs were up 275,000 in February.

The seasonally adjusted numbers for California showed gains in 5 industries and losses in 13.   Increases were led by Healthcare & Social Assistance (14,300), Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (4,000), and Accommodation & Food Services (1,400).  Losses were led by Construction (-9,600), Wholesale Trade (-3,500), and Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities  (-2,100).
 
 
Recovery Progress: CA Nonfarm Jobs vs. Other States
 

California’s monthly job performance in February was the 49th highest among the states and DC.  Texas led with 49,800, followed by Illinois at 23,100 and Michigan at 15,200.

Compared to the pre-pandemic peak, California has now gained 294,100 nonfarm jobs, still in 4th place among the states and DC.
 
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Adjusted for size, California again ranked 29th highest, below the US average.
 
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Nonfarm Jobs by Region
 

Both the budget critical Bay Area and Los Angeles Region posted nonfarm job losses (seasonally adjusted) over the month, leaving the post-pandemic recovery rankings unchanged.
 
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Because the data in the table is seasonally adjusted, the numbers should be considered as the total for the counties in each region rather than the regional number.  This job series also is not available for all areas in California.
 
Unemployment Rates by Region
 

Looking at employment, no region in the state has yet to pass the pre-pandemic peak.  Los Angeles and Bay Area remain the furthest behind.
 
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Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) compared to pre-pandemic February 2020 are shown below.
 
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Counties with Double-Digit Unemployment
 
10
 
Counties with
Unemployment Above
10%
 
  

The number of counties with an unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) at 10% or edged up to 3. The unadjusted rates ranged from 3.7% in San Mateo to 20.4% in Colusa.
 
 
Unemployment Rate by Legislative District
 

The estimated unemployment rates are shown below for the highest and lowest districts.  The full data and methodology are available on the Center’s website.
 
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Sacramento, CA 95814
916.553.4093
 
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