April 20, 2018 - SACRAMENTO – California’s unemployment rate remained steady at 4.3 percent in March – tying the record low set in February in a series dating back to the beginning of 1976 – although the state’s employers lost 7,200 nonfarm payroll jobs, according to data released today by the California Employment Development Department (EDD) from two surveys. California has also now gained a total of 2,856,200 jobs since the economic expansion began in February 2010.

The U.S. unemployment rate was unchanged in March at 4.1 percent, while the nation’s employers added 103,000 nonfarm payroll jobs.

In March 2017, the state’s unemployment rate was 5.0 percent. The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,100 California households.

Nonfarm payroll jobs in California totaled 17,045,800 in March, according to a survey of businesses that is larger and less variable statistically. The survey of 71,000 California businesses measures jobs in the economy. The year-over change, March 2017 to March 2018, shows an increase of 321,000 jobs (up 1.9 percent).

EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT IN CALIFORNIA

The federal household survey, done with a smaller sample than the survey of employers, shows an increase in the number of employed Californians over the month and the year. It estimates the number of Californians holding jobs in March was 18,552,000, an increase of 2,000 from February, and up 290,000 from the employment total in March of last year.

The number of unemployed Californians was 827,000 in March – down by 16,000 over the month, and down by 142,000 compared with March of last year.

PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT DETAIL (SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)

EDD’s payroll employment report (wage and salary jobs) in the nonfarm industries of California totaled 17,045,800 in March, a net loss of 7,200 jobs from February. This followed a revised gain of 1,200 jobs in February.

Month-over Job Gains

Three of California’s eleven industry sectors added a total of 6,700 jobs in March. Educational and health services posted the largest increase with a gain of 4,600 jobs, followed by manufacturing (up 1,900 jobs), and mining and logging (up 200 jobs).

Month-over Job Losses

Eight industry sectors reported job declines over the month, down a total of 13,900 jobs. Other services posted the largest decrease over the month, down 4,600 jobs, followed by construction, (down 4,400 jobs), and trade, transportation and utilities (down 1,900 jobs). Other sectors that reported job declines were financial activities (down 1,200 jobs), information (down 800 jobs), professional and business services (down 800 jobs), leisure and hospitality (down 100 jobs), and government (down 100 jobs).

Year-over Job Gains

In a year-over-year comparison (March 2017 to March 2018), nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 321,000 jobs (a 1.9 percent increase).

Ten of California’s eleven industry sectors added a total of 326,300 jobs over the year. The largest job gains were in educational and health services, up 86,100 jobs (a 3.3 percent increase), construction, up 54,400 jobs (a 6.8 percent increase), and professional and business services, up 45,500 (a 1.8 percent increase). Other sectors adding jobs over the year were leisure and hospitality, trade, transportation and utilities, government, manufacturing, financial activities, information and mining and logging.

Year-over Job Losses

Only one industry sector posted job declines over the year, other services, down a total of 5,300 jobs.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS (NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)

In related data, the EDD reported that there were 403,184 people receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the March survey week. This compares with 396,030 in February and 420,505 in March of last year. At the same time, new claims for Unemployment Insurance were 39,330 in March, compared with 31,291 in February and 42,939 in March of last year.



Source: EDD