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

September 2019

The Center for Jobs and the Economy has released our initial analysis of the September 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 4.0% CA Unemployment Rate

EDD reports California's unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) in September reached a new record low of 4.0% as the labor force showed modest gains. Total employment was up 38,000 from the revised August numbers, while total unemployment dropped by 17,400. Total labor force was up 20,700 as the labor force participation rate held steady.

US Unemployment Rate Unchanged 3.5% US Unemployment Rate

The US unemployment rate reached a 50-year low of 3.5% as nationally the labor force continued to draw in 117,000 new workers. Employment was up 391,000 and unemployment down 275,000.

Unemployment by Ethnicity/Race

Unemployment rates by ethnicity/race showed improvement from August, with the largest gains for African-Americans. 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 21.3k Job Gains

Nonfarm wage and salary jobs rose 21,300 (seasonally adjusted) in September, while jobs nationally grew by 130,000. August's gains were revised to 32,000 from the previously reported 34,500. Biggest gains were in Administrative & Support & Waste Services (11,000; $45.4k), Arts, Entertainment & Recreation (5,300; $59.4k), and Manufacturing (4,100; $95.6k). Losses were in 6 industries, led by Accommodation & Food Services (-4,500; $25.0k); Other Services (-2,000; $40.7k), and Information (-1,500; $188.3k). 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 total Nonfarm jobs were up 320,000 over the year, the labor force continues to stall. California employment dropped by 39,500 over the year ending September 2019 (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 -0.2%, 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 51, with 19 counties at 3% or below. San Mateo had the lowest rate at 1.7%, while Imperial had the highest at 20.7%.

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]