Job Growth Continues in Inland Empire

For the month of August 2013, a study from the University of Redlands Institute for Spatial Economic Analysis (ISEA) finds the overall year-over-year job growth in California still remains positive but at a less accelerated rate. Most areas still show moderate (1 to 3 percent) to significant (more than 3 percent) job growth including Orange County, Los Angeles County, Stockton, Fairfield, Santa Rosa, Yuba City, Salinas, San Jose and San Francisco area. However, employment data still shows warning signs for the Inland Empire although the overall job growth rate has slightly increased in August 2013. In addition, the area of Oakland still remains in idling status (-1 to 1 percent job growth) and the Sacramento area is getting worse with most areas showing idling and scattered locations even shedding jobs (negative job growth) in August 2013. On the other hand, the northern area and the south border of San Diego County and most regions in Modesto and Fresno have stepped into the idling status. The scattered locations surrounding Modesto and Fresno have even started shedding jobs in August 2013. The overall month-over-month job growth in most regions in Southern California still remains idling in August 2013, except for the Inland Empire where there is a sharp contrast to the job growth in July 2013. With only one small area in Palm Springs still shedding jobs, all the other red locations (negative job growth) in the Inland Empire have disappeared in August 2013. Instead, almost half of the region shows moderate job growth although the idling zones are embedded in the area, which makes the whole region still appear patchy. The overall month-over-month job growth in Northern California still appears idling in August 2013. Job growth in Stockton, southern Modesto and Visalia, where there had been significant job losses (more than 3%) in July 2013, the situation has now improved in August 2013 by adding more green zones showing moderate to significant job increase. On the other hand, Fresno, Fairfield and Napa, areas that had shown moderate job growth in July 2013, has stepped into the idling status in August 2013. In addition, Hanford and Santa Cruz have started shedding jobs in August 2013. Year-over-Year Metro Market Findings in Southern California INLAND EMPIRE • The year-over-year job growth in Riverside and San Bernardino counties has slightly increased this month with the average job growth rate increasing 0.36 percent in July 2013 to 0.67 percent in August 2013. • The whole region still appears patchy with positive job growth areas expanding to more places including Victorville, Rialto, Fontana, Upland, Yucaipa, Cherry Valley, Moreno, Chino Hills, Edgemont, Woodcrest, El Cerrito, Canyon Lake, Sun City, San Jacinto, Hemet, East Hemet, Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Palm Desert, La Quinta, Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree, Twentynine Palms, Desert Hot Springs and the large region between Aguanga and Murrieta. The small region between Corona and Mira Loma and the region around Glen Avon and Pedley still remain in the red zone (-1 to -3 percent job losses) shedding jobs in August 2013. METHODOLOGY 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 best to direct their efforts.