The state of California’s unemployment rate remained steady in February at 10.9%. Employers added over 4,000 jobs during the month. Jobs are being added in coastal areas, but construction sectors and government hiring remain the largest drags on the employment ranks through the state. Communities in the inland area continue to have a high unemployment rate.
The net increase in jobs for the month signaled a slow but steady growth pattern for the labor market. Even though there were gains, the unemployment rate remains the same. The rate in California is over 2.5% higher than the national average of 8.3%
The biggest job increases statewide last month were in industries that usually pay higher than the average for salaries. This was a positive sign for the overall state of the economy in California. The information industry, including motion pictures and software, added over 9,000 jobs followed by the manufacturing sector, which added 6,200. Health and education services added 6,100, while business and professional services increased by 2,800.
Another important sign of growth in the economy in the state was the number of hires for temporary employment. Temporary employees are seen as a bellwether for the state’s labor market. That is because they are often the first to be hired during the recovery phase of the economy.
