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

October 2019

The Center for Jobs and the Economy has released our initial analysis of the October 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 3.9% CA Unemployment Rate

EDD reports California's unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) in October reached a new record low of 3.9% as the labor force continued to show only modest gains.

Total employment was up 50,000 from the revised September numbers, while total unemployment dropped by 9,100. Total labor force was up 40,800.

For the year, total labor force was down 57,400 for the 12 months ending in October, while total employment was down by 24,000.

US Unemployment Rate 3.6% US Unemployment Rate

The US unemployment rate notched up to 3.6% as nationally the labor force continued to expand with 325,000 new workers. Employment was up 241,000 and unemployment up 86,000.

Nationally, the labor force grew by 1,670,000 (1.0%) over the year, while employment grew by 1,928,000 (1.2%).

Unemployment by Ethnicity/Race

Unemployment rates by ethnicity/race held steady except for a 0.1% improvement for Latinos. 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. Labor force participation rates also held steady except for African-Americans, which dropped from 60.1% to 59.8% compared to 62.2% for the state as a whole.

Nonfarm Jobs Up 23.6k Job Gains

Nonfarm wage and salary jobs rose 21,300 (seasonally adjusted) in October, while jobs nationally grew by 130,000. September's gains were revised to 26,700 from the previously reported 21,300. Biggest gains were in Accommodation & Food Services (6,000; $25.0k), Government (5,400; $70.1k), and Health Care & Social Assistance (4,800; $51.8k). Losses were in 5 industries, led by Administrative & Support & Waste Services (-3,300; $45.4k); Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (-2,900; $122.5k), and Information (-1,800; $188.3k). All salary numbers are the latest 4-quarter average from Quarterly Census of Employment & Wages.

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% dipped to 47, with 17 counties at 3% or below. San Mateo had the lowest rate at 1.8%, while Imperial had the highest at 21.2%.

Note: Bureau of Labor Statistics will not be releasing the full states’ data until November 22, at which point we will complete our full analysis of the October data.

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]