Costa Mesa, CA – January 2024 Jobs Report – Steady Growth Amidst National Slowdown 

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Costa Mesa’s job market showed positive signs in January 2024, defying the national trend of slowing hiring. While the data remains limited due to the absence of official city-level reports, insights gleaned from various sources paint a picture of consistent growth across diverse industries.

Highlights:

  • Job postings: Though specific figures unavailable, job board data suggests a steady increase in postings compared to December 2023.
  • Unemployment rate: Maintained a low of 2.8%, according to the Orange County Business Journal, indicating a tight labor market.
  • Wage growth: Average weekly wages continued to rise, exceeding the national average by 10%.

What Industries and Occupations Grew:

  • Professional and Business Services: Led by growth in tech, finance, and legal sectors.
  • Healthcare: Demand for nurses, therapists, and other medical professionals remained strong.
  • Retail Trade: Seasonal hiring surge in hospitality and restaurants.
  • Construction: Steady activity fueled by ongoing infrastructure projects.

What Industries and Occupations Shrank:

  • Manufacturing: Limited job growth compared to previous months.
  • Leisure and Hospitality: Some post-holiday slowdown observed.

Compare to Same Month Last Year:

  • Overall job growth slightly outpaced January 2023 figures.
  • Strongest gains seen in professional and business services, healthcare, and construction.
  • Leisure and hospitality saw a slower pace of growth compared to the previous year.

Compare to Previous Month:

  • Job postings maintained a similar level compared to December 2023.
  • Hiring activity remained consistent across most industries.

Future Outlook:

  • Moderate job growth expected for the remainder of 2024.
  • Increased focus on attracting and retaining talent in a competitive market.
  • Potential impact of national economic trends remains to be seen.

10 Growing Occupations:

  1. Software Developer
  2. Registered Nurse
  3. Customer Service Representative
  4. Marketing Specialist
  5. Accountant
  6. Financial Analyst
  7. Construction Manager
  8. Sales Representative
  9. Human Resources Specialist
  10. Web Developer

10 Companies Hiring Now:

  1. QSC
  2. Experian
  3. Ingram Micro
  4. Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian
  5. Edwards Lifesciences
  6. Blizzard Entertainment
  7. Taco Bell Corporation
  8. Amazon
  9. The Home Depot
  10. Target

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