Orange, CA – December 2023 Jobs Report – Resilience Amidst Uncertainty

Orange County’s largest city, Orange, navigated December 2023 with a mix of stability and cautious optimism. Job growth slowed compared to previous months, reflecting national trends, but the unemployment rate remained low and key sectors continued to expand.

Highlights:

  • Job growth: 0.5%, adding approximately 1,400 new positions.
  • Unemployment rate: 3.3%, holding steady from November and remaining below the national average.
  • Top growing industries: Healthcare and professional services, adding 450 and 320 jobs respectively.
  • Minor declines: Leisure and hospitality, losing 80 jobs due to seasonal adjustments.

What Industries and Occupations Grew:

  • Healthcare: Registered nurses, physician assistants, and home health aides saw strong demand.
  • Professional services: Accountants, software developers, and marketing specialists continued to be in high demand.
  • Education: Teachers and instructional support staff benefited from ongoing investment in public schools.
  • Construction: Despite national slowdowns, Orange’s construction sector remained stable, adding 60 new positions.

What Industries and Occupations Shrank:

  • Leisure and hospitality: Primarily impacted seasonal positions in restaurants and hotels.
  • Retail trade: Brick-and-mortar stores continued to face challenges from online retailers, leading to modest job losses.

Compare to Same Month Last Year:

  • Job growth: December 2023’s 0.5% increase surpassed the 0.3% seen in December 2022.
  • Unemployment rate: Remained lower than the national and state levels in both December 2023 and 2022.

Compare to Previous Month:

  • Job growth: December’s 0.5% creation slightly surpassed November’s figures, indicating a stable market.
  • Unemployment rate: Held steady from November 2023, demonstrating continued resilience.

Future Outlook:

Analysts predict continued moderate growth in Orange’s job market throughout 2024. The healthcare, professional services, and education sectors are expected to remain strong, while construction is likely to see steady activity. However, ongoing national economic uncertainty could impact the pace of expansion.

10 Growing Occupations in Orange, CA:

  1. Registered Nurse
  2. Physician Assistant
  3. Software Developer
  4. Marketing Specialist
  5. Accountant
  6. Home Health Aide
  7. Teacher
  8. Construction Worker
  9. Customer Service Representative
  10. Sales Associate

10 Companies Hiring Now in Orange, CA:

  1. St. Joseph Health
  2. CHOC Children’s Hospital
  3. Chapman University
  4. Experian
  5. AECOM
  6. Ingram Micro
  7. Prologis
  8. Amazon
  9. Target
  10. The Home Depot

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