The January 2024 jobs report for Apple Valley, CA paints a picture of modest job growth, defying the national trend of a slowing labor market. However, the local gains lag behind pre-pandemic levels, indicating a still recovering economy. Let’s delve into the details:
Overview:
- Apple Valley added 128 new jobs in January, bringing the unemployment rate down to 5.2%, compared to 5.4% in December 2023.
- This growth is slower than the national average of 1.4% for the same period.
- Despite the positive increase, Apple Valley’s job market hasn’t fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels. January 2020 saw the addition of 215 jobs, indicating a 40% decrease in hiring activity.
Highlights:
- The Leisure and Hospitality industry led the job gains, adding 52 new positions, primarily in accommodation and food services.
- The Professional and Business Services sector followed closely with 41 new jobs, mainly in administrative and support occupations.
- Government jobs also saw an increase of 27, driven by hiring in local administration.
What Industries and Occupations Grew:
- Leisure and Hospitality: Accommodation and food services (+52 jobs)
- Professional and Business Services: Administrative and support occupations (+41 jobs)
- Government: Local government administration (+27 jobs)
- Retail Trade: Sales workers (+18 jobs)
- Transportation and Warehousing: Transportation occupations (+15 jobs)
What Industries and Occupations Shrank:
- Construction: Construction and extraction occupations (-9 jobs)
- Manufacturing: Production occupations (-7 jobs)
- Financial Activities: Finance and insurance occupations (-5 jobs)
Compare to Same Month Last Year:
- Apple Valley added 84 fewer jobs in January 2024 compared to January 2023.
- This represents a 30% decrease in year-over-year job growth.
Compare to Previous Month:
- Job growth in January 2024 was slightly higher than in December 2023, which saw an increase of 118 jobs.
Future Outlook:
- The future outlook for Apple Valley’s job market is cautiously optimistic.
- The local economy is expected to continue growing, but at a slower pace than the national average.
- Key industries like Leisure and Hospitality and Professional and Business Services are expected to see continued hiring.
10 Growing Occupations:
- Personal Care Aide
- Home Health Aide
- Registered Nurse
- Customer Service Representative
- Retail Salesperson
- Software Developer
- Truck Driver
- Warehouse Worker
- Administrative Assistant
- Marketing Specialist
10 Companies Hiring Now:
- St. Jude Medical Center
- Apple Valley Unified School District
- Walmart
- The Home Depot
- FedEx
- Dollar General
- Amazon
- Kaiser Permanente
- AutoZone
- Starbucks
Sources:
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
- California Employment Development Department (EDD)
- Indeed
- Glassdoor