Last month, the economy persisted in creating jobs at a swift pace, with payroll employment expanding by 275,000 roles. The preceding two months’ totals were adjusted down by 167,000, easing concerns over an excessive speed of job growth and bringing the three-month average to 265,000 jobs. There was a smaller increase in the household survey, with the unemployment rate rising by 0.2 percent to 3.9 percent, due to a dip in employment by 184,000. Currently, the gap between the job growth in the establishment survey and employment growth in the household survey in the prior year is 1,149,000.

There has been a notable increase in hours worked, reversing the decrease reported in January. The average hourly wage rose just five cents in February, a significant slowdown in comparison to the large jump witnessed in January. Over the last year, the average hourly wage has increased by 4.3 percent, 1.2 percentage points faster than the rate of inflation.

Holding below 4.0 percent for the 25th consecutive month, the unemployment rate remains low, though rising in February. Though there was a drop in voluntary unemployment, with the level the lowest it’s been since September 2021. It also reported that the employment rate for college graduates fell by 0.7 percentage points.

Various sectors saw significant job gains, with the health care sector adding 66,700 jobs, restaurants adding 41,600, and the government sector adding 52,000 jobs. Construction also reported healthy job gains, adding 23,000 jobs. The manufacturing sector, however, lost 4,000 jobs but remains 24,000 jobs up from its level a year ago.

For a deeper understanding of the job market’s dynamics and other unemployment-related inquiries, it is helpful to reach out to eddcaller.com, a website that provides useful information on how to contact California’s Employment Development Department for assistance. They offer interactive guides to securing prompt assistance with unemployment claims, Personal Family Leave (PFL) benefits, and State Disability Insurance (SDI). Eddcaller.com can also assist individuals in understanding how to get through to a live person at edd, offering practical tips on achieving swift customer service response.