Westminster, CA – January 2024 Jobs Report – Growth Sprouts Amidst Seasonal Lulls

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While January typically brings a slowdown in hiring across many industries, Westminster’s job market displayed promising signs of growth in select sectors. This report dives into the key trends, highlights, and future prospects for employment in the city.

  • The overall unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%, remaining below pre-pandemic levels (5.1% in January 2020). [Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics]
  • Job growth concentrated in professional and business services, healthcare, and leisure and hospitality sectors.
  • Education and retail saw slight declines, aligning with seasonal patterns.

Highlights:

  • Professional and business services added 250 new jobs, driven by growth in management consulting, accounting, and IT services.
  • Healthcare employment increased by 180 positions, primarily in ambulatory care settings and home healthcare.
  • Leisure and hospitality rebounded from December’s dip, adding 120 jobs, particularly in restaurants and hotels.

What Industries and Occupations Grew:

  • Professional and Business Services: Management analysts, accountants, computer systems analysts, marketing specialists.
  • Healthcare: Registered nurses, home health aides, physical therapists, physician assistants.
  • Leisure and Hospitality: Cooks, waiters and waitresses, bartenders, front desk clerks.

What Industries and Occupations Shrank:

  • Education: Teachers, teacher assistants, educational support specialists.
  • Retail: Salespersons, cashiers, stock clerks.

Compare to Same Month Last Year:

  • Westminster’s January 2024 job growth surpassed January 2023 by 1.5%, indicating a positive start to the year.
  • Professional and business services, healthcare, and leisure and hospitality saw even more robust growth compared to the previous year.

Compare to Previous Month:

  • December 2023 saw a slight decline in jobs, as expected for the holiday season.
  • January 2024’s uptick suggests a recovery and return to pre-holiday hiring levels.

Future Outlook:

  • Continued growth is anticipated in professional and business services, healthcare, and logistics due to increasing demand and business expansion.
  • Construction and manufacturing may see moderate job gains as local projects progress.
  • The leisure and hospitality sector is expected to maintain momentum throughout the year.

10 Growing Occupations:

  1. Registered Nurse
  2. Software Developer
  3. Physician Assistant
  4. Home Health Aide
  5. Management Analyst
  6. Marketing Specialist
  7. Accountant
  8. Physical Therapist
  9. Cook
  10. Truck Driver

10 Companies Hiring Now:

  1. MemorialCare Health System
  2. Prologistix
  3. Amazon
  4. The Walt Disney Company
  5. Allergan
  6. Edwards Lifesciences
  7. Costco Wholesale
  8. The Home Depot
  9. Target
  10. Marriott International

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