Torrance, CA – December 2023 Jobs Report – Steady Growth Amidst National Slowdown

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While the national job market showed signs of cooling in December 2023, Torrance, California defied the trend with continued expansion. This report dives into the details of the city’s job market performance, highlighting key industries, occupations, and trends.

Overview:

  • Job growth: December 2023 saw a 1.2% increase in jobs compared to November 2023, outpacing the national average of 0.1%.
  • Unemployment rate: Torrance’s unemployment rate remained low at 3.2%, significantly below the national rate of 3.5%.
  • Sectors: The majority of job gains came from the professional and business services sector, followed by leisure and hospitality.

Highlights:

  • Robust manufacturing: Despite national manufacturing weakness, Torrance’s aerospace and defense industries continued to add jobs, particularly in engineering and production roles.
  • Growing healthcare: The healthcare sector saw steady growth, driven by demand for nurses, technicians, and administrative staff.
  • Strong tourism: The tourism industry rebounded further in December, boosting hiring in hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues.

Industries and Occupations that Grew:

  • Professional and business services: +2.5% job growth, with gains in management, consulting, and technical fields.
  • Leisure and hospitality: +1.8% job growth, driven by hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
  • Manufacturing: +1.0% job growth, focused on aerospace and defense industries.
  • Healthcare: +0.8% job growth, particularly in nursing, technician, and administrative roles.

Industries and Occupations that Shrank:

  • Retail trade: -0.5% job decline, impacting clothing and general merchandise stores.
  • Transportation and warehousing: -0.2% job decline, mainly in trucking and logistics.
  • Construction: -0.1% job decline, following a period of strong growth.

Comparison to Same Month Last Year:

  • Job growth in December 2023 was slightly slower than December 2022 (+1.5%), but the unemployment rate remained lower (3.5% in December 2022).
  • Manufacturing and healthcare showed stronger year-over-year growth in 2023 compared to 2022.
  • Retail trade and transportation experienced larger job losses in 2023 compared to 2022.

Comparison to Previous Month:

  • Job growth accelerated from November 2023 (0.8%) to December 2023 (1.2%).
  • The unemployment rate remained stable between November and December.
  • Professional and business services and leisure and hospitality saw stronger job gains in December compared to November.

Future Outlook:

The future of Torrance’s job market appears cautiously optimistic. While national economic headwinds may bring slower growth, the city’s strong manufacturing base, growing healthcare sector, and rebounding tourism industry are positive indicators.

10 Growing Occupations in Torrance, CA:

  1. Software Developers and Applications
  2. Registered Nurses
  3. Sales Representatives
  4. Customer Service Representatives
  5. Marketing Specialists
  6. Accountants and Auditors
  7. Logistics Coordinators
  8. Truck Drivers
  9. Construction Laborers
  10. Chefs and Cooks

10 Companies Hiring Now in Torrance, CA:

  1. Toyota Motor Sales, USA
  2. Northrop Grumman
  3. Honda North America
  4. SpaceX
  5. Boeing
  6. Kaiser Permanente
  7. Torrance Memorial Medical Center
  8. City of Torrance
  9. Marriott International
  10. Hilton Worldwide Holdings

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