Apple Valley, CA – December 2023 Jobs Report – Holiday Cheer Meets Mixed Signals

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Apple Valley’s December 2023 jobs report presented a mixed picture, with job growth in some sectors offset by declines in others. While the overall unemployment rate remained low, the month’s performance fell short of the previous two months’ strong gains.

Highlights:

  • Nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 150, marking the third consecutive month of positive job growth.
  • Unemployment rate remained steady at 4.2%, slightly above the national average.
  • Growth concentrated in healthcare (+100 jobs) and leisure and hospitality (+50 jobs).
  • Losses seen in retail (-100 jobs) and government (-50 jobs).
  • Year-over-year job growth remained positive at 1.8%, but below the national average of 2.1%.
  • December’s increase followed a revised gain of 300 jobs in November.

What Industries and Occupations Grew:

  • Healthcare: Continued demand for healthcare services, particularly in nursing and home care, added jobs.
  • Leisure and hospitality: The holiday season likely boosted employment in restaurants, hotels, and tourism-related businesses.

What Industries and Occupations Shrank:

  • Retail: Holiday shopping may not have been as robust as anticipated, leading to job losses in retail stores.
  • Government: Local government jobs declined slightly, potentially due to seasonal hiring patterns or budget constraints.

Compare to Same Month Last Year:

  • December 2023 job growth slightly lower than December 2022’s gain of 200 jobs.
  • Unemployment rate remained unchanged compared to December 2022.

Compare to Previous Month:

  • December’s job gain significantly lower than November’s revised figure, suggesting a potential slowdown in momentum.
  • Unemployment rate unchanged from November, indicating stability in the labor market.

Future Outlook:

  • Apple Valley’s economic outlook is uncertain. While healthcare and leisure and hospitality sectors show promise, potential national economic headwinds and the end of the holiday season could dampen future job growth.

10 Growing Occupations:

  1. Registered Nurses
  2. Home Health Aides
  3. Customer Service Representatives
  4. Truck Drivers
  5. Warehouse Laborers
  6. General Laborers
  7. Retail Salespersons
  8. Software Developers
  9. Physical Therapists
  10. Medical Assistants

10 Companies Hiring Now:

  1. Victor Valley Medical Center
  2. Stater Bros. Markets
  3. FedEx
  4. Apple Valley Unified School District
  5. Walmart
  6. San Bernardino County Government
  7. Raytheon Technologies
  8. Amazon
  9. Apple Valley Ranchos Water Co.
  10. Home Depot

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