California’s job growth continues.

California added 58,100 non-agricultural jobs in January, enough to account for 16.5 percent of the nation’s job growth, according to data released March 8.

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.2 percent during the first month of the year, up from 5.1 percent in December and from 4.5 percent in January 2023, the state Employment Development Department reported.

Ten of California’s 11 industry sectors gained jobs in January. Private education and health services gained the most – 18,100 – followed by professional and business services, which added 15,700 jobs.

Manufacturing shed 800 jobs in January, the only major sector to post a loss during that month.

Total non-farming jobs increased by 225,400 – 1.3 percent – from January 2023 to January 2024, the department reported.

The Inland Empire posted a non-adjusted 5.5 percent unemployment rate in January, up from a revised five percent the previous month and well above the 4.4 estimate made one year ago. All sectors declined in job growth between December and January except mining and logging, which was unchanged.

Retail dropped 8,200 jobs followed by transportation, warehousing, and utilities, which dropped 7,200 jobs, the development department reported.