San Benito County’s unemployment rate was under 5 percent in the most recent numbers for July.
The county had 29,100 people employed out of 30,600 in the month of July, according to figures provided by the California Economic Development Department. The numbers were released Aug. 17 and showed a continually strong employment base for the county’s largely commuter workforce.
According to the full press release from EDD:
California’s unemployment rate remained steady at 4.2 percent in July – holding at a record low level for the fourth consecutive month in a series dating back to 1976 – and the state’s employers added 46,700 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 2,969,800 jobs since the economic expansion began in February 2010.
The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 3.9 percent, while the nation’s employers added 157,000 nonfarm payroll jobs.
In July 2017, the state’s unemployment rate was 4.7 percent. The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,100 California households.
Nonfarm payroll jobs in California totaled 17,159,400 in July, 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, July 2017 to July 2018, shows an increase of 332,700 jobs (up 2.0 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 over the year. It estimates the number of Californians holding jobs in July was 18,541,000, an increase of 14,000 from June, and up 121,000 from the employment total in July of last year.
The number of unemployed Californians was 807,000 in July – a decrease of 7,000 over the month, and down by 104,000 compared with July of last year.
PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT DETAIL (SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)
EDD’s payroll employment report (wage and salary jobs) in the nonfarm industries of California totaled 17,159,400 in July, a net gain of 46,700 jobs from June. This followed a revised gain of 21,500 jobs in June.
Month-over Job Gains
Nine of California’s eleven industry sectors added a total of 49,200 jobs in July. Professional and business services reported the largest increase with a gain of 15,100 jobs, followed by trade, transportation and utilities (up 11,200) and leisure and hospitality (up 9,500). Other industries with job gains were educational and health services, information, other services, manufacturing, government and mining and logging.
Month-over Job Losses
Two of California industries reported job losses over the month. Construction reported the largest decrease with a loss of 1,700 jobs and financial activities had a decline of 800 jobs.
Year-over Job Gains
In a year-over-year comparison (July 2017 to July 2018), nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 332,700 jobs (a 2.0 percent increase).
Ten of California’s eleven industry sectors added a total of 333,000 jobs over the year. The largest job gains were in educational and health services, up 74,100 jobs (a 2.8 percent increase), professional and business services, up 60,200 (a 2.3 percent increase) and leisure and hospitality, up 58,000 (a 3.0 percent increase). Other sectors adding jobs over the year were trade, transportation and utilities, construction, government, information, manufacturing, financial activities, and other services.
Year-over Job Losses
Only one industry sector posted job declines over the year, mining and logging, down 300 jobs.
Unemployment figures are derived from surveys done by the EDD.
