Southern California job creation in June was roughly double the pace of the previous year.
My trusty spreadsheet, filled with state job figures released Friday, July 18, found 8.01 million people at work in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties in June. These figures are not adjusted for seasonal swings.
That’s up 71,300 workers in the year compared with 36,600 local jobs added in the previous year. It’s the most significant increase in 10 months, but it’s no wild hiring spree. Southern California bosses grew staff at a 101,400 annual pace since 2010.
Alternatively, consider staffing changes on a percentage basis. The past year’s 0.9% expansion was an improvement from the 0.5% increase the previous 12 months, but it’s below the 1.4% annual pace of the last 15 years.
A hiring revival?
Well, this job bump is somewhat surprising. Local businesses have expressed caution as they assess the unorthodox economic strategies of the Trump administration.
Also, note that most of the recent job gains are in industries tied to government spending. Such funding may decrease in the coming months: healthcare – up 41,200 in a year, social assistance – up 34,300, and government – up 19,600.
As for June itself, 4,400 jobs were trimmed across the region. June is typically a weak month for employment, as educators leave the job market for summer recess, outnumbering new staffing at tourism-related workplaces. Since 2010, June has generally seen only 400 workers added.
Joblessness
The four-county unemployment rate was 5.7% in June compared with 4.9% in the previous month, and 5.6% a year earlier. By the way, the median monthly local jobless rate is 5.8% since 2010.
There were 505,400 Southern Californians counted as officially out of work, up 65,100 in a month and up 10,700 in a year. The jobless count is 1% above the 500,100 median since 2010.
Regional differences
Here’s how the job market performed in the region’s key metropolitan areas in June …
Los Angeles County: 4.61 million workers, after adding 41,700 in 12 months vs. a 43,800 annual pace since 2010. For the month, there were 6,500 cuts, a decrease compared with the historical average of 1,700 cuts. Unemployment? 5.9% vs. 5.4% a month earlier, 6.7% a year ago and 6.1% median since 2010.
Orange County: 1.7 million workers, after adding 11,900 in 12 months, vs. 21,100 annual pace since 2010. For the month, there was a 2,200 increase compared with the historical 2,300 additions. Unemployment? 4.5% vs. 3.6% a month earlier, 4.4% a year ago and 4.3% median since 2010.
Inland Empire: 1.71 million workers, after adding 17,700 in 12 months, vs. a 36,500 annual pace since 2010. For the month, there was a 100 decrease compared with history’s 1,000 cuts. Unemployment? 5.9% vs. 4.8% a month earlier, 5.9% a year ago and 6.2% median since 2010.
Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com