State unemployment rate drops to record low

The state Employment Development Department announced Wednesday the unemployment rate dropped to 4.4 percent, a new record-low rate since 1976.

According to EDD, the state has gained a total of 2,851,800 jobs since the economic expansion began in February 2010.

A federal household survey, estimates the number of Californians holding jobs in January was 18,537,000, an increase of 17,000 from December and up 342,000 from January 2017.

The number of unemployed Californians was 851,000 in January, down by 15,000 over the month and down by 152,000 compared with January 2017.

The U.S. unemployment rate was unchanged in January at 4.1 percent, while the nation’s employers added 200,000 non-farm payroll jobs.

In January 2017, the state’s unemployment rate was 5.2 percent. The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,100 California households.

Non-farm payroll jobs in California totaled 17,038,400 in January, 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, January 2017 to January 2018, shows an increase of 400,100 jobs (2.4 percent).

Payroll employment

EDD’s payroll employment report (wage and salary jobs) in the nonfarm industries of California totaled 17,038,400 in January, a net gain of 35,500 jobs from December. This followed a revised gain of 35,000 jobs in December (a downward revision of 17,700 jobs from the original 52,700 job gain estimate).

Month-over job gains

Eight of California’s 11 industry sectors added a total of 44,300 jobs in January.

Construction posted the largest jobs increase with a gain of 11,100 jobs, followed by trade, transportation and utilities, up 10,800 and educational and health services, up 10,700. Other industry sectors adding jobs over the month were leisure and hospitality (6,400), manufacturing (2,100), other services (1,100), government (1,100) and financial activities (1,000). Mining and logging remained unchanged.

Month-over job losses

Two industry sectors reported job declines over the month, down a total of 8,800 jobs. Professional and business services posted the largest decrease over the month, down 7,300 jobs, followed by information, down 1,500 jobs.