Southern California Adds 27,800 Workers in March – Hiring Pace 37% Above Pre-Pandemic Levels

In Southern California, the job market is showing signs of strong growth as bosses added 27,800 workers in March. This hiring pace is 37% above the region’s pre-pandemic job growth for the month, according to state job figures released on Friday, April 19.

The total number of workers in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties reached 7.95 million in March, with an increase of 27,800 in a month and 76,900 in 12 months. This growth is significantly higher than the average hiring of 20,220 in March from 2015-2019.

Despite the challenges of the past year, job growth in the region has been steady, with a 1% increase in the past 12 months. However, this is slightly lower than the 2.2% growth rate seen throughout 2015-2019.

The increase in employment has also led to a decrease in the regional unemployment rate, which was 4.8% in March compared to 4.9% in the previous month and 4.3% a year earlier. The number of unemployed workers, counted at 437,100, was down 2,000 in a month but up 48,000 in a year.

The job market performance varied across different metropolitan areas in the region. Los Angeles County added 14,900 workers, Orange County added 7,100 workers, and the Inland Empire added 5,800 workers in March.

Key business sectors that saw significant job changes include education/health, leisure/hospitality, and government. The leisure/hospitality sector added 9,100 workers in a month and 8,800 in a year, while the government sector added 6,300 workers in a month and 28,200 in a year.

Overall, the job market in Southern California is showing signs of recovery and growth, with various industries contributing to the increase in employment. This positive trend is a promising sign for the region’s economic recovery.