Lake Forest’s job market navigated January 2024 with resilience, demonstrating stability amidst national economic fluctuations. While job growth slowed compared to previous months, the city maintained a healthy unemployment rate and witnessed expansion in key sectors.
Highlights:
- Total nonfarm employment: Increased by 0.4%, adding 128 new jobs to the city’s economy.
- Unemployment rate: Remained steady at 3.2%, indicating continued economic strength.
- Leading industries: Healthcare and professional services spearheaded job creation, adding 42 and 37 positions respectively.
Growth Areas and Occupations:
- Healthcare: Hospitals, physician offices, and home healthcare agencies continued their hiring spree, fueled by an aging population and rising healthcare demand.
- Professional Services: Accounting, legal, and engineering firms expanded their teams, reflecting sustained business activity in the city.
- Construction: Despite national slowdowns, Lake Forest’s construction sector held steady, adding 18 new positions.
- Other notable growth: Manufacturing, leisure and hospitality (seasonal fluctuations considered). (Source: ZipRecruiter)
Areas Experiencing Decline:
- Leisure and Hospitality: Restaurants and hotels saw a slight decline of 15 jobs, likely due to seasonal factors and ongoing competition.
- Retail: Brick-and-mortar stores continued to face challenges from online shopping, losing 12 jobs in December.
Year-over-Year and Month-over-Month Comparisons:
- Compared to January 2023: Lake Forest’s unemployment rate remained unchanged, while job growth slowed compared to the 0.8% seen in the previous year. This reflects the national economic slowdown.
- Compared to December 2023: The unemployment rate held steady, but job growth slowed down from the 0.7% recorded in December.
Future Outlook:
While national economic forecasts suggest a potential slowdown in job growth throughout 2024, Lake Forest’s diversified economy positions it well for continued stability. Key areas with promising prospects include:
10 Growing Occupations in Lake Forest (Source: ZipRecruiter):
- Data Analyst
- Medical Assistant
- Territory Sales Representative
- Customer Service Specialist Lead
- Receptionist
- Software Engineer
- Marketing Manager
- Registered Nurse
- Project Manager
- Accountant
10 Companies Hiring Now in Lake Forest (Source: ZipRecruiter):
- Paul Davis
- ASSA ABLOY Group
- Camino Health Center
- Adecco
- MDxHealth
- Sodexo
- Quest Diagnostics
- The Irvine Company
- Allergan
- Prologis
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