SACRAMENTO (KNX) — California's unemployement rate dropped to 5.4% with 138,000 jobs created in February, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Friday, explaining that the state created more than 20% of jobs in the United States last month according to the jobs report.
"These latest numbers show that California is continuing to drive our nation’s job growth," Newsom said in a statement. "We’re doing it by promoting more pathways to opportunity and embracing the diversity, creativity, innovation, and determination that breeds success."
By the numbers, California has now regained 87.2%, or 2.4 million, of the 2.758,900 nonfarm jobs that were lost between March and April of 2020 due the COVID-19 pandemic, the Employment Development Center (EDD) said the February jobs report.
"California’s 138,100 new jobs in February far outpaced every other state," Newsom's office said.
"And it was 60,300 more jobs than the next closest state of Texas and 87,100 more jobs than Florida."
While the nation's year-over jobs growth currently stands at a rate of 4.6%, California has surpassed it — hitting 6.8% in the latest jobs report.
Since January 2021, more than 1.3 million jobs have been created, Newsom said.
Unemployment
The number of Californians employed in February was 18,057,400, EDD said, an increase of 98,300 people from January’s total of 17,959,100.
The number of unemployed Californians was 1,024,000 in February, a decrease of 65,700 over the month.
Growing industries
Leisure and hospitality: Up 454,300 year-over, from Feb. 2021 to Feb. 2022.
Education and health services: Up 121,900 year-over, from Feb. 2021 to Feb. 2022.
Professional and business services: Up 131,200 year-over, from Feb. 2021 to Feb. 2022.
Trade, transportation and utilities: Up 117,300 year-over, from Feb. 2021 to Feb. 2022.
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