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

The August numbers were positive but at relatively modest levels.  Although revisions to the July numbers show stronger growth that month, nonfarm wage and salary jobs grew by only 6,800 in August, the 8th highest level among the states.  Employment gains were 8,700. 

The unemployment rate of 5.3% remained at the 2nd worst among the states, tied with Illinois and just ahead of Nevada.  The number of unemployed again was above 1 million for the 8th month in a row, posting the worst levels since the pandemic months in 2021.  The 0.1 point rise in the unemployment rate, however, came as the labor force grew by 20,000, with both the rise in the number of employed and unemployed reflecting new entrants.

While the administration has remained focused on arguing that higher wages somehow have not affected jobs in Limited-Service Restaurants, jobs in some of core base industries affecting overall economic performance and budget revenues came in weaker.  Using the seasonally adjusted series, Manufacturing was down 4,700 for the month, down 27,900 from August 2023, and overall down 51,500 from the pre-pandemic high.  Information as the result of tech industry layoffs and continuing effects from the movie/tv production strike was off 5,100 for the month, 21,200 for the year, and 109,800 from the peak.  Financial Activities showed little change (-100) for the month, but a loss of 4,100 for the year, and 38,200 from the peak.  Using the unadjusted series, Transportation & Warehousing—a key industry providing middle class wage jobs especially for workers with a high school education or less—fared somewhat better with a gain of 300 for the month and 8,500 for the year, but was down 49,700 from the pre-pandemic high.

Interactive Original:  https://www.bls.gov/charts/state-employment-and-unemployment/change-in-nonfarm-employment-by-state-map.htm 

Compared to the pre-pandemic peak in February 2020, California’s relative ranking for employment recovery improved marginally to 5th lowest among the states and DC.

Interactive Original:  https://www.bls.gov/charts/state-employment-and-unemployment/change-in-nonfarm-employment-by-state-map.htm

Interactive Original:  https://www.bls.gov/charts/state-employment-and-unemployment/change-in-nonfarm-employment-by-state-map.htm

California’s monthly job performance in August was the 8th highest among the states and DC.  Jobs growth instead was led by Texas with 78,000, Indiana with 19,800, and Minnesota with 14,400.  The Texas number included some bounce-back from Hurricane Beryl.

Compared to the pre-pandemic peak, California has now gained a net 414,000 nonfarm jobs, remaining in 3rd place just ahead of much smaller North Carolina.  As the result of these shifts, California nonfarm jobs have dropped from 11.6% to 11.4% of the US total, Texas growing from 8.5% to 9.0%, and Florida from 6.0% to 6.3% in just over 4 years.

Adjusted for size, the July revisions helped California notch up to 30th highest, still below the US average.  Only 4 states and DC remain below their pre-pandemic peaks.

By region, job gains were concentrated in Central and Sacramento Valleys, while the budget-critical Bay Area showed a modest gain of 1,100.  Los Angeles and Orange County regions were essentially unchanged.

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.

Looking at employment change over the year, the Bay Area continued to show losses while portions of Southern California and the Central Valley again showed gains.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) remain higher in most regions compared to pre-pandemic February 2020 levels.

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.

Highest Unemployment Rate

Lowest Unemployment Rate