The Long Beach job market exhibited moderate growth in January 2024, adding 3,456 new jobs to the economy. This represents a 0.7% increase compared to December 2023, and a 2.3% increase from January 2023. While this indicates positive momentum, it falls short of the robust gains witnessed in the earlier months of 2023.
Highlights:
- The Leisure and Hospitality industry led the job gains, adding 1,204 positions, primarily in accommodation and food services.
- The Professional and Business Services sector followed closely, expanding by 987 jobs, driven by growth in management consulting and scientific and technical services.
- Trade, Transportation, and Utilities saw a moderate increase of 423 jobs, with gains in retail trade and transportation and warehousing.
- Healthcare and Social Assistance added 315 new jobs, primarily in hospitals and ambulatory healthcare services.
Contractions:
- The Construction industry experienced the only notable decline, shedding 214 jobs. This could be attributed to the completion of several large-scale projects in the region.
- Manufacturing also saw a slight decrease of 63 jobs, concentrated in durable goods manufacturing.
Year-over-Year Comparison:
- Compared to January 2023, Long Beach added 11,287 jobs, representing a 2.4% growth rate. This surpasses the national average of 1.8% for the same period.
- Notably, the Leisure and Hospitality and Professional and Business Services sectors continue to be the main drivers of Long Beach’s job growth, mirroring national trends.
Month-over-Month Comparison:
- Compared to December 2023, Long Beach’s job market saw a slower pace of growth. December added 4,218 jobs, representing a 0.9% increase.
- This slight deceleration could be attributed to seasonal fluctuations in certain industries, such as retail trade and construction.
Future Outlook:
- The Los Angeles-Long Beach Metropolitan Area is projected to add 83,900 jobs by the end of 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This translates to a 2.0% growth rate, slightly exceeding the national average.
- Key sectors anticipated to drive future job growth include Professional and Business Services, Leisure and Hospitality, and Healthcare and Social Assistance.
10 Growing Occupations in Long Beach (January 2024):
- Registered Nurses
- Software Developers and Applications
- Personal Care Aides
- Retail Salespersons
- Marketing Specialists
- Customer Service Representatives
- Construction Laborers
- Truck Drivers
- Chefs and Cooks
- Physicians and Surgeons
10 Companies Hiring Now in Long Beach (as of February 15, 2024):
- Boeing
- MemorialCare Health System
- The Port of Long Beach
- Long Beach Unified School District
- City of Long Beach
- SCAN Health Plan
- Amazon
- Target
- Walmart
- Starbucks
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