However, city is still doing better than county, state and U.S.
The Avalon unemployment rate was 2.4 percent in December 2018, according to data recently released by the state government. The bad news: that’s a one-tenth-of-one-percent increase from November 2018. The good news: Avalon’s unemployment rate remains lower than the county, state and national unemployment rates.
As the Islander reported last month, the November jobless rate was 2.3 percent, the October jobless rate was 2.4 percent, the September jobless rate was 2.5 percent and the August rate was 2.6 percent.
“The unadjusted unemployment rate for the county was 4.6 percent in December 2018,” according to the Labor Market Information Division of the California Employment Development Department.
Keep in mind that the numbers apply only to people who live in the city of Avalon. The state does not provide unemployment data for the Two Harbors resort.
“The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Los Angeles County increased over the month to 4.8 percent in December 2018 from a revised 4.7 percent in November 2018 and was above the rate of 4.5 one year ago. Civilian employment increased by 6,000 to 4,932,000 in December 2018, while unemployment increased by 4,000 to 247,000 over the month. The civilian labor force increased by 10,000 over the month to 5,179,000 in December 2018,” according to a statement issued by the Labor Market Information Division of the California Employment Development Department.
“The California seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.2 percent in December 2018, 4.1 percent in November 2018, and 4.5 percent a year ago in December 2017. The comparable estimates for the nation were 3.9 percent in December 2018, 3.7 percent in November 2018, and 4.1 percent a year ago,” according to the EDD.
As the Islander points out whenever reporting jobless rates, according to the U.S. Federal Reserve website, a “normal” unemployment rate is between 4 and 5 percent.
Here are some details about jobs in LA County:
“Between November 2018 and December 2018, total non-farm employment in Los Angeles County increased by 7,300 jobs to reach 4,577,300,”
“Of the seven sectors that gained over the month, trade, transportation and utilities led, adding 8,400 jobs with subsector gains in transportation and warehousing (up 3,600), retail trade (up 3,400), and wholesale trade (up 1,500),” according to the Employment Development Department.
“Educational and health services expanded by 4,600, gains were comprised entirely of health care and social services (up 4,700) and counterbalanced with a 100 job loss in educational services,” according to the Employment Development Department.
“Construction (down 4,200) declined the most of the four industry sectors that experienced employment decline. Over 70 percent of construction losses were found in specialty trade contractors (down 3,000),” according to the Employment Development Department.
“Motion picture and sound recording lost 3,500 jobs over the month, driving employment decline in the information sector (down 3,300),” according to the Employment Development Department.
“Between December 2017 and December 2018, non-farm employment in Los Angeles County increased by 60,000 or 1.3 percent,” according to the Employment Development Department.
“Leisure and hospitality (up 24,400) led the eight industry sectors adding over the year. Accommodation and food services achieved record high employment (457,600), adding 16,600 jobs. Arts, entertainment and recreation also expanded, posting 7,800 job additions,” according to the Employment Development Department.
