Construction led month-over job declines

The unemployment rate in the Sacramento-Arden Arcade-Roseville MSA was 9.8 percent in December 2012, unchanged from a revised 9.8 percent in November 2012, and below the year-ago estimate of 10.9 percent. This compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 9.7 percent for California and 7.6 percent for the nation during the same period. The unemployment rate was 9.4 percent in El Dorado County, 8.6 percent in Placer County, 9.9 percent in Sacramento County, and 11.7 percent in Yolo County.

Between November 2012 and December 2012, total wage and salary employment located in the counties of El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo decreased by 1,500 to total 821,900 jobs.

• Construction decreased by 1,600 jobs. Residual construction (down 700 jobs), specialty trade contractors (down 500 jobs), and construction of buildings (down 400 jobs) accounted for the decrease.

• Government declined by 1,200 jobs. Local government (down 600 jobs), state government (down 500 jobs), and federal government (down 100 jobs) accounted for the decline.

• Total farm declined by 400 jobs.

• On the upside, trade, transportation and utilities increased by 700 jobs. Transportation, warehousing and utilities (up 500 jobs) and retail trade (up 200 jobs) accounted for the increase. Wholesale trade was unchanged over the month.
Between December 2011 and December 2012, the total number of jobs located in the region increased by 10,500 or 1.29 percent.

• Trade, transportation and utilities increased by 4,900 jobs. Gains in retail trade (up 4,100 jobs), transportation, warehousing and utilities (up 500 jobs), and wholesale trade (up 300 jobs) accounted for the increase.

• Education and health services added 3,000 jobs. Health care and social assistance (up 2,900 jobs) and education services (up 100 jobs) accounted for the gain.

• Professional and business services expanded by 2,200 jobs. A gain in administrative and support and waste management and remediation services (up 2,600 jobs) offset a loss in professional, scientific and technical services (down 400 jobs). Management of companies and enterprises was unchanged over the year.

• On the downside, leisure and hospitality declined by 1,700 jobs. A loss in accommodation and food services (down 2,000 jobs) offset a gain in arts, entertainment, and recreation (up 300 jobs).