Los Angeles hiring just 38% of recent pace, 106,000 jobs below pre-pandemic levels

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Los Angeles County bosses added 9,500 workers in June — 38% of the recent hiring pace — to bring employment to 97.7% of pre-pandemic levels.

My trusty spreadsheet, filled with state job figures, found local bosses had 4.51 million workers — up 237,300 in 12 months. June employment was 106,000 below February 2020, the last month before COVID-19 arrived on the economic scene.

Job growth is moderating as the Federal Reserve tries to cool an overheated economy and many bosses struggle to fill open positions. June’s hiring pace in Los Angeles County was slower than the 24,800 workers added monthly in the pandemic era’s employment rebound. Note: Bosses added workers at a 4,700 monthly pace in 2018-19 before coronavirus cratered the economy.

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Los Angeles County’s unemployment rate was 5.2% in June compared to 4.5% in the previous month; and 10% a year earlier; and 4.3% in February 2020.

Here’s how employment fared in key industries in Los Angeles County since coronavirus shocked the economy, ranked by jobs recovery …

Transportation/warehouses: 107% of pre-coronavirus jobs with 213,900 workers. That’s up 13,500 from February 2020 after adding 700 last month vs. jobs growing 1,200 monthly in the recovery.

Healthcare, personal services: 101% of pre-coronavirus jobs with 734,600 workers. That’s up 10,700 from February 2020 after adding 1,400 last month vs. jobs growing 2,900 monthly in the recovery.

Business services: 101% of pre-coronavirus jobs with 654,700 workers. That’s up 4,000 from February 2020 after dropping 2,800 last month vs. jobs growing 3,700 monthly in the recovery.

Retailing: 99% of pre-virus employment with 409,200 workers. That’s up 3,900 from February 2020 after dropping 1,500 last month vs. jobs growing 3,300 monthly in the recovery.

Construction, real estate, finance: 98% of pre-pandemic staffing — with 320,100 workers. That’s up 8,000 from February 2020 after adding 3,300 last month vs. jobs growing 1,100 monthly in the recovery.

Government: 96% of pre-pandemic staffing with 571,800 workers. That’s up 26,200 from February 2020 after adding 1,000 last month vs. jobs dipping -600 monthly in the recovery.

Manufacturing: 95% of pre-virus employment with 320,700 workers. That’s up 17,200 from February 2020 after adding 2,300 last month vs. jobs growing 1,100 monthly in the recovery.

Restaurants: 93% of pre-pandemic jobs with 369,000 workers. That’s up 28,900 from February 2020 after adding 4,100 last month vs. jobs growing 5,900 monthly in the recovery.

Arts, entertainment and recreation: 90% of pre-pandemic staffing with 88,500 workers. That’s up 9,500 from February 2020 after adding 500 last month vs. jobs growing 1,300 monthly in the recovery.

Hotels: 74% of pre-virus employment with 38,500 workers. That’s up 13,200 from February 2020 after adding 400 last month vs. jobs growing 500 monthly in the recovery.

PS: Bosses in the four-county Southern California region in June had 1.66 million workers — 25,800 below February 2020 or 98.5% of pre-pandemic employment.

Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com

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