Southern California’s unemployment fell to 4% in September, the lowest rate in 33 months.
My trusty spreadsheet, looking at newly released state data, found joblessness in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties declined from 4.4% in August and 6.9% a year earlier. It was 4.4% in February 2020, the month before the coronavirus upended the economy. The last time the rate was lower was in December 2019, when it fell to 3.9%.
Southern California’s job market remains tight despite the Federal Reserve’s attempt to cool the national economy with steep interest-rate hikes. Low unemployment means hiring challenges for bosses.
September had 7.9 million Southern Californias at work — up 328,900 in 12 months but still 7,300 below pre-pandemic February 2020.
Compare that with one measure of the local pool of workers known as the “workforce” and you’ll see it hasn’t rebounded as much.
The tally of people who are employed plus the jobless — totaled 8.73 million in September, up 36,200 in a year but 288,600 below February 2020.
This shortfall of job candidates is one reason the Southern California job count fell by 2,300 from August to September — the first monthly drop in a year.
Regional differences
Here’s how the job market performed in the region’s key metropolitan areas …
Los Angeles County: Unemployment? 4.5% vs. 4.9% a month earlier; 7.1% a year ago; 4.3% in February 2020. Jobs? 4.56 million workers, 98.5% of February 2020 after dropping 6,700 in a month and growing by 178,700 in a year.
Orange County: Unemployment? 2.7% vs. 3.0% a month earlier; 4.7% a year ago; 2.8% in February 2020. Jobs? 1.67 million workers, 98.9% of February 2020 after adding 1,200 in a month and growing by 67,000 in a year.
Inland Empire: Unemployment? 3.9% vs. 4.3% a month earlier; 6.1% a year ago; 3.9% in February 2020. Jobs? 1.68 million workers, 105.1% of February 2020 after adding 3,200 in a month and growing by 83,200 in a year.
Uneven rebound
Not all industries have had the same pandemic rebound. Look at Southern California job counts by key job niches as of September — ranked by size of recovery …
Related Articles
Twitter tells staff there aren’t plans for companywide layoffs
Lansner’s mailbag: California labor participation on the rise
Inflation: More than half of Americans considering second jobs
Rich get richer: Income inequality grows in California, US
McDonald’s to launch Hiring Week in Southern California
Transportation/warehouses: 120% of pre-coronavirus jobs with 457,800 workers. That’s up 77,200 from February 2020 after adding 1,100 last month.
Business services: 104% of pre-coronavirus jobs with 1,185,100 workers. That’s up 41,700 from February 2020 after adding 5,700 last month.
Healthcare, personal services: 103% of pre-coronavirus jobs with 1,206,100 workers. That’s up 38,700 from February 2020 after dropping 600 last month.
Retailing: 100% of pre-virus employment with 739,100 workers. That’s up 900 from February 2020 after dropping 5,300 last month.
Construction, real estate, finance: 100% of pre-pandemic staffing with 672,100 workers. That’s up 2,100 from February 2020 after dropping 5,500 last month.
Restaurants: 99% of pre-pandemic jobs with 675,600 workers. That’s up 5,100 from February 2020 after adding 400 last month.
Manufacturing: 96% of pre-virus employment with 573,600 workers. That’s up 22,800 from February 2020 after dropping 2,800 last month.
Government: 94% of pre-pandemic staffing with 964,900 workers. That’s up 66,900 from February 2020 after adding 21,000 last month.
Arts, entertainment and recreation: 91% of pre-pandemic staffing with 159,700 workers. That’s up 15,200 from February 2020 after dropping 300 last month.
Hotels: 81% of pre-virus employment with 78,200 workers. That’s up 18,700 from February 2020 after adding 200 last month.
Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com