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

for March 2021

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 [[link removed]].

The February data in general shows a strong rise in employment with lower growth in the number of Nonfarm jobs. California recovery remains below the rest of the states, although the employment gap has narrowed in the preliminary numbers.

CA Unemployment Rate Improves 8.5% CA Unemployment Rate

California's reported unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) in February improved 0.5 point from the revised January number to 8.5%.

Total reported employment grew 345,500 from the revised January numbers, while total unemployment dropped 69,900. The labor force improved by 275,500.

US Unemployment Rate 6.2% US Unemployment Rate

The reported national numbers show US unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) improving 0.1 point to 6.2%, but more likely was up to 0.5 point higher due to the ongoing misclassification issues. Employment was up 208,000, and unemployment down by 158,000. The national labor force was essentially level with a gain of only 50,000.

Nonfarm Jobs Up 141.0k 141.0k Nonfarm Jobs Change

Nonfarm wage and salary jobs rose 141,000 (seasonally adjusted) in February, while the losses in January were revised to 80,000 from the previously reported 69,900. Nonfarm jobs nationally were up 379,000. California job growth was led by Accommodation & Food Services (91,700), Other Services (14,100), and Health Care & Social Assistance (13,400). Losses were in 9 industries led by Information (-2,800), Transportation, Wholesale Trade (-2,600), and Real Estate & Rental & Leasing (-11,600). The numbers shown in the chart below are the seasonally adjusted numbers.

Counties With Double-Digit Unemployment 11 Counties with Unemployment Above 10%

The number of counties with an unemployment rate at 10% or above dipped to 11. The unadjusted rates ranged from 5.0% in Marin to 15.9% in Imperial.

8th Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim MSA Ranking for Worst Unemployment Rate in the Country

In January, the unemployment rate for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim MSA was 11.5%, dropping that region into 8th worst rate among the 389 MSAs in the US. El Centro MSA (Imperial County) again had the worst unemployment rate in the nation. Looking just at the county rather than the MSA level, Los Angeles County at 10.9% had the seventh worst unemployment rate in California in February.

Visit the Center [[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]