EDD reports California's unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) in December held at the record low of 3.9% as the labor force continued to show modest gains.

Total employment was up 56,300 from the revised November numbers, while total unemployment dropped by 4,000. Total labor force was up 52,300.

The labor force numbers continued to show little change over the year.  Total labor force was up 36,900 0.2%) for the 12 months ending in December, while total employment was up by 81,800 (0.4%).

The revised national numbers show US unemployment rate unchanged at 3.5%, matching the previous two months as the lowest since 1969.  Nationally, the labor force grew by 209,000.  Employment was up 267,000 and unemployment down 58,000. 

Total US labor force grew by 1,445,000 (0.9%) over the year, while employment grew by 1,978,000 (1.2%).

Overall, revisions to the national numbers show only minor changes, but with more substantial effects in the last quarter for the prior two years.  As a result, both labor force and employment growth for the 12 months ending November 2019 were revised up by about 6% each.

Nonfarm wage and salary jobs rose 12,600 (seasonally adjusted) in December, while jobs nationally grew by 266,000. November's gains were revised to 24,000 from the previously reported 32,000. Biggest gains were in Other Services (4,200; $40.7k), Government (3,400; $70.1k), and Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (3,300; $122.5k) and Administrative & Support & Waste Services (3,300; $45.4k). Losses were in 6 industries, led by Information (-3,900; $188.3k), Accommodation & Food Services (-2,400; $25.0k); and Real Estate & Rental & Leasing (-1,100; $68.9k). All salary numbers are the latest 4-quarter average from Quarterly Census of Employment & Wages.

Two counties, Imperial and Colusa, had an unemployment rate at 10% or above. The number with unemployment rates at or below 5% dipped to 38, with 14 counties at 3% or below.  San Mateo had the lowest rate at 1.8%, while Imperial had the highest at 19.4%.