SACRAMENTO December 21, 2018 – California’s unemployment rate held at 4.1 percent in November while the state’s employers added 30,700 nonfarm payroll jobs, according to data released today by the California Employment Development Department (EDD) from two surveys. California has now gained a total of 3,078,100 jobs since the economic expansion began in February 2010.

The U.S. unemployment rate remained at 3.7 percent, and the nation’s employers added 155,000 nonfarm payroll jobs.

In November 2017, the state’s unemployment rate was 4.5 percent. The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,100 California households.

Nonfarm payroll jobs in California totaled 17,267,700 in November, 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, November 2017 to November 2018, shows an increase of 299,800 jobs (up 1.8 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 November was 18,710,500, an increase of 73,200 from October, and up 184,700 from the employment total in November of last year.

The number of unemployed Californians was 806,600 in November – an increase of 2,300 over the month, and down by 58,200 compared with November of last year.

PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT DETAIL (SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)

EDD’s payroll employment report (wage and salary jobs) in the nonfarm industries of California totaled 17,267,700 in November, a net gain of 30,700 jobs from October. This followed a revised gain of 36,800 jobs in October.

Month-over Job Gains

Nine of California’s eleven industry sectors added a total of 35,400 jobs in November. Leisure and hospitality reported the largest increase with a gain of 12,400 jobs, followed by professional and business services (up 7,600 jobs), construction (up 3,300 jobs) and educational and health services (up 3,300 jobs). Other sectors adding jobs over the month were government, other services, manufacturing, financial activities, and trade, transportation, and utilities.

Month-over Job Losses

Two of California industries reported job losses over the month. Information reported the largest decrease with a loss of 4,500 jobs, followed by mining and logging which lost 200 jobs.

Year-over Job Gains

In a year-over-year comparison (November 2017 to November 2018), nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 299,800 jobs (a 1.8 percent increase).

Nine of California’s eleven industry sectors added a total of 301,500 jobs over the year. The largest job gains were in professional and business services, up 91,100 (a 3.5 percent increase), educational and health services, up 63,300 jobs (a 2.4 percent increase) and leisure and hospitality, up 50,600 (a 2.6 percent increase).

Other sectors adding jobs over the year were government, construction, trade, transportation and utilities, information, manufacturing and financial activities.

Year-over Job Losses

Industries that posted job declines over the year included other services with a job loss of 1,300 and mining and logging, with a 400 job loss.