Which Southern California industry added the most jobs in April?

Southern California’s bosses added 52,100 workers in April — a hiring pace more than double the region’s pre-pandemic job growth for the month.

My trusty spreadsheet, filled with state job figures released Friday, May 19, found 8.02 million at work in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties in April. The job count, not adjusted for seasonal variations, was up 52,100 in a month and up 160,100 in 12 months.

Local hiring averaged 22,620 in April between 2015-19. In March, 14,400 employees were added in the region.

The hiring rebound cut Southern California joblessness. Southern California’s unemployment rate was 4.1% for April compared with 4.6% in the previous month and 4.2% a year earlier. Joblessness averaged 4.2% in pre-pandemic 2018-19.

Industry swings

Look at job changes in 10 key Southern California business sectors, ranked by one-month change …

Leisure/hospitality: 1.06 million – up 11,000 in a month and up 39,700 in a year.

Education/health: 1.46 million – up 10,100 in a month and up 68,200 in a year.

Construction: 409,400 workers – up 8,200 in a month but down 900 in a year.

Professional-business services: 1.02 million – up 6,000 in a month and up 12,100 in a year.

Transport-warehouse-utility: 698,100 workers – up 4,100 in a month and up 13,500 in a year.

Information: 265,100 workers – up 2,200 in a month but down 900 in a year.

Financial: 410,300 workers – up 2,100 in a month and up 3,700 in a year.

Government: 1 million workers – up 1,800 in a month and up 18,700 in a year.

Retailing: 634,400 workers – up 1,600 in a month and up 9,400 in a year.

Manufacturing: 442,300 workers – up 300 in a month but down 2,000 in a year.

Regional differences

Here’s how the job market performed in the region’s key metropolitan areas …

Los Angeles County: 4.64 million workers, after adding 29,800 in a month and growing by 106,200 in a year. Hiring averaged 8,880 for the month between 2015-19. Unemployment? 4.5% vs. 5% a month earlier; 4.5% a year ago; and 4.6% average in 2018-19.

Orange County: 1.71 million workers, after adding 15,200 in a month and growing by 41,800 in a year. Hiring averaged 6,860 for the month in 2015-19. Unemployment? 3% vs. 3.4% a month earlier; 2.7% a year ago; and 2.9% average in 2018-19.

Inland Empire: 1.67 million workers, after adding 7,100 in a month and growing by 12,100 in a year. Hiring averaged 6,880 for the month in 2015-19. Unemployment? 4.1% vs. 4.6% a month earlier; 3.4% a year ago; and 4.2% average in 2018-19.

By the way, similar stats show the rest of California with 10 million workers in April – up 65,900 in a month and up 231,600 in a year.

Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at [email protected]