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Unemployment statistics: CA January and US February

The “Daily Double” in unemployment, at least for today, since California postponed its report on January in order to incorporate revised statistics….

So here goes – first, the CA unemployment statistics for January….

Although the unemployment RATE in January increased (slightly from 12.4%) to 12.5%, California non-farm payroll jobs also INCREASED by 32,500 in January, with eight of 11 industry sectors showing gains according to data from two separate surveys released today by the Calfornia Employment Development Department. The number of people unemployed in California was 2,266,000 – up by 32,000 over the month, and up by 488,000 compared with January of last year.

According to the EDD report:

“Eight categories (mining and logging; construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; other services; and government) added jobs over the month, gaining 45,900 jobs. Construction posted the largest increase over the month, adding 16,200 jobs. Three categories (information; financial activities; and professional and business services) reported job declines this month, down 13,400 jobs. Information posted the largest decline over the month, down by 12,100 jobs.”

“In a year-over-year comparison (January 2009 to January 2010), nonfarm payroll employment in California decreased by 701,700 jobs (down 4.8 percent).”

“One industry division, educational and health services, posted job gains over the year, adding 12,400 jobs (a 0.7 percent increase).”

“Ten categories (mining and logging; construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; information; financial activities; professional and business services; leisure and hospitality; other services; and government) posted job declines over the year, down 714,100 jobs. Trade, transportation and utilities employment showed the largest decline on a numerical basis, down by 148,900 jobs (a decline of 5.5 percent). Construction posted the largest decline on a percentage basis, down by 18.0 percent (a decrease of 128,700 jobs).”

At the national level, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today that the February nonfarm payroll employment was little changed (-36,000) in February, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 9.7%. (1) Employment fell in construction and information, while temporary help services added jobs. In February, the number of unemployed persons, at 14.9 million, was essentially unchanged.

From the Bureau of Labor Statistics report:

“Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (10.0 percent), adult women (8.0 percent), whites (8.8 percent), blacks (15.8 percent), Hispanics (12.4 percent), and teenagers (25.0 percent) showed little to no change in February. The jobless rate for Asians was 8.4 percent, not seasonally adjusted.”

“The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks and over) was 6.1 million in February and has been about that level since December. About 4 in 10 unemployed persons have been unemployed for 27 weeks or more.”

“Job losses continued in construction and information, while employment continued to increase in temporary help services. Since the start of the recession in December 2007, payroll employment has fallen by 8.4 million.”

“Construction employment fell by 64,000 in February, about in line with the average monthly job loss over the prior 6 months. Job losses were concentrated in nonresidential building (-10,000) and among nonresidential specialty trade contractors (-35,000). Since December 2007, employment in construction has fallen by 1.9 million.”

“Employment in the information industry dropped by 18,000 in February. Since December 2007, job losses in information have totaled 297,000. In February, employment in transportation and warehousing continued to trend down.”

“Employment in manufacturing was essentially unchanged in February. Small job gains in a number of component industries were offset by job losses in motor vehicles and parts and in chemicals.”

“Retail trade employment was unchanged in February, after a sizeable increase in January. Over the month, job gains in building material and garden supply stores (7,000) and in department stores (6,000) were offset by declines in food and beverage stores (-9,000).”

“In February, temporary help services added 48,000 jobs. Since reaching a low point in September 2009, temporary help services employment has risen by 284,000. Health care employment continued to trend upward in February.”

“In February, employment in the federal government edged up. The hiring of 15,000 temporary workers for Census 2010 was partially offset by a decline in U.S. Postal Service employment.”

All in all, a “mixed bag,” with the unemployment situation either holding steady or getting slightly better….

-Bill at

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