While monthly job additions have varied a lot
since the beginning of the year, California led all states in the monthly
increase. The state has added 271,600 jobs over the last year, which is a 1.6
percent year-over-year increase – slightly behind the 1.8 percent overall
national growth rate.
The state’s unemployment rate remained steady
at 4.3 percent in April. Labor force declined, however, by 52,200 in April,
after some solid increases in first three months of the year. Compared to a
year ago, the labor force has increased by 203,900 people.
With 46,000 jobs added over the month, 9 out of
11 industries added jobs in January, with largest gains in educational and
health services, up 17,300 jobs, followed by leisure and hospitality, up 12,100
jobs. Information and minting and logging posted monthly losses.
In annual comparison, 10 out of 11 industries
added jobs with health services showing the largest gains, up 78,800 jobs,
followed by professional and business services, up 66,900 jobs. Only financial
activity posted an annual loss of 2,700.
Regionally, Los Angeles finally showed a rebound
after a rocky start to 2019. Los Angeles County added 19,300 jobs over the
month and 56,100 over the year. The region’s labor force, however, declined by
20,000 which is not encouraging for hiring trends going forward. Nevertheless,
monthly gains were largely focused in leisure and hospitality, with a larger
than usual seasonal addition. Construction also saw above-average April gains
bringing the sector’s employment to the highest level in more than a decade. On
the annual basis, the health and wellbeing of an aging population continues to influence
large gains. Job additions in healthcare and social assistance, up 18,800,
accounted for ninety-two percent of the overall sector job growth to reach a
new all-time high. On the other hand, losses were focused in financial
services, particularly, finance and insurance, though apparel manufacturing was
down as well.
In the Bay Area, gains were broad based across
the regions and most regions saw unemployment rate decline again falling below
the year-ago bottom. In San Francisco-San Mateo region, up 5,000 jobs, monthly
gains were led by healthcare job additions, followed by leisure and
hospitality, and solid gains in information.
In the Santa Clara-San Benito region, up 6,400
jobs, gains were also led by leisure and hospitality, but also specialty trade
contractors, and information. Computer and electronic product manufacturing
posted 1,100 losses.
In Alameda and Contra Costa, up 6,800 jobs,
similar trends followed with healthcare and social assistance leading the gains
followed by leisure and hospitality.
