Web Version [link removed] | Update Preferences [link removed] [link removed] California Employment Report for

August 2019

The Center for Jobs and the Economy has released our initial analysis of the August Employment Report released by the California Employment Development Department. For additional information and data about the California economy visit www.centerforjobs.org [[link removed]]

CA Unemployment Rate Level 4.1% CA Unemployment Rate

EDD reports California's unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) in August stayed at 4.1% as the labor force continued to dip. Total employment was up 5,400 from the revised July numbers, while total unemployment dropped by 13,200. Total labor force was down 7,800 as the labor force participation rate held steady.

US Unemployment Rate Unchanged 3.7% US Unemployment Rate

The US unemployment rate remained at 3.7% as nationally the labor force continued to draw in 571,000 new workers. Employment was up 590,000 and unemployment down 19,000.

Unemployment by Ethnicity/Race

Unemployment rates by ethnicity/race were unchanged from July for Latino and White, and improved for African-American. The data source for these rates differs from the reported numbers, with EDD estimating the demographic rates as a 12-month moving average from the core Current Population Survey data.

Nonfarm Jobs Up 34.5k Job Gains

Nonfarm wage and salary jobs rose 34,500 (seasonally adjusted) in August, while jobs nationally grew by 130,000. July's gains were revised to 16,200 from the previously reported 19,600. Biggest gains were in Government (14,500; $70.1k), Accommodation & Food Services (8,300; $25.0k), and Administrative & Support & Waste Services (6,100; $45.4k). Losses were in 8 industries, led by Retail Trade (-1,700; $36.7k), Construction (-1,700; $70.1k), and Finance & Insurance (-1,400, $128.1k). All salary numbers are the latest 4-quarter average from Quarterly Census of Employment & Wages.

Employment Rank Drops To 50th Highest 50th Job Gains

While jobs growth continues to slow in the state, employment has slowed more strongly as the labor force growth continues to stall out. California employment dropped by 34,500 over the year ending August 2018 (seasonally adjusted), putting it at the 50th highest gain among the states and above only New York. On a population-adjusted basis, California’s growth rate was -1.1%, placing it at 46th highest.

Counties with Double-Digit Unemployment 1 Counties with

Unemployment

Above 10%

Only one county, Imperial, had an unemployment rate at 10% or above. The number with unemployment rates at or below 5% rose to 39, with 7 counties at 3% or below. San Mateo had the lowest rate at 2.1%, while Imperial had the highest at 22.1%.

California Center for Jobs [[link removed]] The California Center for Jobs and the Economy provides an objective and definitive source of information pertaining to job creation and economic trends in California. [[link removed]] Contact 1301 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814 916.553.4093 If you no longer wish to receive these emails, select here to unsubscribe. [link removed]