More jobs created in U.S. golden state

California saw a solid gain in jobs in September despite the effect of the housing slowdown, according to statistics published on Saturday.

A net of 17,300 payroll jobs was added to the working force in September, although less than August's, another sign that the Golden State continues to weather the housing market's slowdown, the Governor's Office said in a statement e-mailed to Xinhua.

Payroll jobs were expanded in nearly all sectors, indicating that the state was on a path toward a "soft landing", analysts noted.

The unemployment rate fell to 4.8 percent from 4.9 percent in August, when a robust gain of 36,800 jobs was reported, the state Employment Development Department said.

"It was a solid report, not as spectacular as last month, but still good," said Howard Roth, chief economist for the state Department of Finance.

This came despite a slump in new-home building, which was the state's best job creator last year, adding an average of 5,000 jobs each month.

The slump forced builders to cut hiring after a five-year boom.

Like the national economy, California's job growth this decade has lagged behind the strong increases of the booming 1990s. Employers, wary of high benefit costs and rising energy prices, have hired sparingly. Instead, they have relied on technology and other tools to squeeze as much as possible out of their workforces.

Fortunately, job creation in other sectors appeared to be holding up well. Ten of the 11 sectors tracked by the Employment Development Department posted increases in September, led by education and health services, up by 4,600 jobs, according to statistics published by the Los Angeles Times.

Manufacturing added 4,000 jobs, thanks to strong global demand for the state's technology and aerospace products.

A resurgence in tourism, led by foreign visitors encouraged by strong economies in their homelands and a weak dollar, contributed to a gain of 3,900 jobs in leisure and hospitality. Employment in professional and business services grew by 2,500 positions.

Even the construction industry managed to add jobs last month, with a gain of 300. Strength in commercial real estate, amid growing demand for office and industrial space, is offsetting weakness in residential construction, economists say.

The only category posting a decline was trade, transportation and utilities, which includes the retailing sector. Employment in that grouping fell by 900 jobs, a drop blamed in part on continuing consolidation among department stores and supermarkets.

Source: Xinhua