(The Center Square) – California’s unemployment rate rose to 4.7%, as employers added 8,700 nonfarm new hires in September, according to the California Employment Development Department (EDD). The Golden State has added 3,190,000 jobs, for an average monthly gain of 77,829 since April 2020, when the current economic expansion began.
Nationally, total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 336,000 jobs in September; meanwhile, the rate of unemployment stayed at 3.8%, according to data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
California’s total of nonfarm jobs increased by 302,800 (1.7% growth) from September 2022 to September 2023 versus the nation’s yearly gain of 3,192,000 jobs (a 2.1% rise), according to the EDD.
In September, five of California’s 11 industry sectors added nonfarm payroll jobs. Seven of the state’s 11 industry sectors recorded job growth in August, according to the EDD.
Private education and health services gained 18,200 new hires, according to the EDD. This sector led the way in job creation from hiring in general medical and surgical hospitals, continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities, and individual and family services.
In August, private education and health services had also topped the 11 industry sectors with 14,000 new hires, when Golden State employers’ payrolls grew for individual and family services, private colleges, universities and professional schools. This sector has gained 170,400 new hires between September 2022 and September 2023.
California’s leisure and hospitality employers registered second place for job creation in September, adding 11,300 new hires. This service sector, decimated with layoffs and business closures during Gov. Newsom’s pandemic restrictions of sheltering in place to slow the transmission of the virus, has a year-over change of 109,000 new hires, according to the EDD.
California’s construction sector added 2,200 new hires in September, and has gained 14,100 jobs since September 2022, according to the EDD. The Federal Reserve Bank’s policy to fight inflation via hiking interest rates, which increases borrowing costs that construction relies upon, has been a headwind on hiring activity.
California’s manufacturing employers shed 4,600 jobs in September. Manufacturing employment is down 12,600 jobs since September 2022.
The CalRx Biosimilar Insulin Initiative is a state government bid to ensure affordable insulin for diabetes sufferers via contracting with a manufacturing partner, and a manufacturing job creator. To this end, there is a proposal to invest $50 million to develop the most popular short- and long-acting types of insulin, and $50 million to build an insulin manufacturing facility in the Golden State.
Meanwhile, California’s agricultural employers added 800 new hires in September. This sector has 5,000 more farm jobs since September 2022, according to the EDD.
