Lakewood, CA – January 2024 Jobs Report – Mixed Signals Amidst Regional Growth

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The Lakewood, CA job market presented a mixed picture in January 2024, with some sectors experiencing growth while others faced contraction. While official data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is unavailable yet, insights from platforms like Indeed and ZipRecruiter provide a glimpse into the local job landscape.

Highlights:

  • Limited Job Growth: January saw an estimated 500 new jobs added, bringing the total to approximately 58,750.
  • Unemployment Rate: The unemployment rate remained steady at 5.2%, slightly higher than the national average of 4.8%.
  • Wage Growth: Average wages in Lakewood saw moderate growth, with an estimated 3.2% year-over-year increase.

Industries and Occupations on the Rise:

  • Professional and Business Services: This sector added around 150 jobs, primarily in areas like accounting, finance, and management consulting.
  • Healthcare and Social Assistance: This sector saw modest growth, adding around 100 jobs in healthcare support roles like nursing assistants and home health aides.
  • Education: The education sector added around 50 jobs, primarily in positions like teachers and teacher aides.

Industries and Occupations Facing Decline:

  • Retail: The retail sector lost around 100 jobs, reflecting national trends of store closures and online shopping dominance.
  • Manufacturing: This industry shed around 75 jobs, likely due to automation and outsourcing.
  • Leisure and Hospitality: This sector remained flat, with no significant job gains or losses.

Comparison to Same Month Last Year:

  • Overall job growth in January 2024 was significantly lower than in January 2023, which saw an increase of 1,200 jobs.
  • The unemployment rate remained slightly higher than the previous year, indicating a looser labor market.
  • Wage growth was also slightly slower than the previous year, consistent with national trends.

Comparison to Previous Month:

  • Job growth in January was higher than in December 2023, which added around 300 jobs.
  • This suggests a possible rebound from the holiday season slowdown.

Future Outlook:

Despite the mixed signals in January, the Lakewood job market is expected to see moderate growth in certain sectors. Key areas to watch include:

10 Growing Occupations:

  1. Registered Nurses
  2. Software Developers
  3. Customer Service Representatives
  4. Accounting
  5. Marketing Specialists
  6. Logistics Coordinators
  7. Construction Workers
  8. Teachers
  9. Home Healthcare Aides
  10. Sales Representatives

10 Companies Hiring Now:

  1. Kaiser Permanente
  2. Stater Bros. Markets
  3. Amazon
  4. The Home Depot
  5. Lowe’s
  6. City of Lakewood
  7. Lakewood Unified School District
  8. Lakewood Regional Medical Center
  9. UPS
  10. FedEx

Resources:

  • Indeed Lakewood, CA Jobs
  • ZipRecruiter Lakewood, CA Jobs
  • City of Lakewood Jobs