Job Growth in California Remains Steady

For March 2014, a University of Redlands Institute for Spatial Economic Analysis (ISEA) study found that the overall year-over-year job growth in California has remained steady in March 2014. The Inland Empire still shows job growth but appears slower compared to February 2014. Silicon Valley and Fresno are still leading the pack in Northern California. In addition, Napa, San Rafael and the southern area of Sacramento have joined the dark green zone showing significant job growth in March 2014. Most other regions in Northern California still show a steady pace of growth except Yuba City, Marysville, Sonora and Madera where moderate to significant job losses remain. Southern California exerts the same pattern as February 2014 where almost the entire area shows positive job growth with only a few scattered locations appearing idling (-1% to 1% job growth). On the other hand, the overall month-over-month job growth in California has no significant change in March 2014 with almost the whole state still in an idling status (-1% to 1% job growth). Southern California appears yellow with only a few scattered spots located in San Diego County showing moderate job increase (1% to 3%). The overall month-over-month job growth in Northern California appears to have the same pattern with the whole region showing idling status (-1% to 1% job growth). A few locations in the surrounding areas of Sacramento show moderate job increase (1% to 3%). Madera, Merced and the surrounding locations of Visalia appear moderate to significant job losses. Year-over-Year Metro Market Findings in Southern California INLAND EMPIRE • The year-over-year job growth in Riverside and San Bernardino counties has decreased this month with the average job growth rate dropping from 3.02% in February 2014 to 2.62% in March 2014. • The whole region appears green (1% to 3% moderate job growth) to dark green (more than 3% significant job growth) with no locations shedding jobs. Muscoy and a small location in Palm Desert have stepped back to the idling status (-1% to 1% job growth) in March 2014. The researchers combined today’s data release on employment by industry from the California Employment Development Department with business pattern data by zip code and industry from the U.S. Census Bureau to arrive at their projected values. The researchers point out that, given the data available to them, their projected values are only rough approximations of the true values, and that accuracy is higher for counties with larger populations. Despite those shortcomings, the observed patterns should still be helpful for decision makers in politics, businesses and organizations to determine where to best direct their efforts. The Institute for Spatial Economic Analysis (ISEA) serves regional, national and global business and government leaders in their needs to better understand how socio-economic phenomena affect their communities. A division of the University of Redlands School of Business, ISEA publishes ongoing, timely reports covering retail, employment, housing, logistics and other special topics. A key distinction is its ability to illustrate economic trends and patterns through the use of geo-spatial mapping techniques. In addition, ISEA’s ability to provide Zip code level analysis for many of its reports provides unprecedented detail. Current ISEA economic data and interactive maps may be found at http://isea.redlands.edu/.