A springtime construction hiring spree pushed Southern California real estate jobs to a pace that was 38% faster than the seasonal norm.
Property-linked employment in real estate industries in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties was 796,600 in April – up 10,400 for the month but off 2,800 over 12 months, or a 0.4% drop. It was a busy month with job growth running well above the pre-pandemic average of 7,540 new real estate workers for April in 2015-19.
Construction got some help from large infrastructure projects and homebuilders rushing to complete contracted sales. Workers returning to some offices boosted staffing building services. But higher mortgage rates were a drag on employment for transaction handlers.
Which Southern California industry added the most jobs in April?
Here’s a look at key real estate-related employment niches in Southern California and how they did in April …
Construction: 367,900 workers in various trades – up 7,600 for the month and off 4,000 over 12 months, or a 1.1% one-year drop. Average April had a 4,680 job increase.
Real estate services: 77,800 people handling transactions – up 600 for the month and up 200 over 12 months, or a 0.3% one-year gain. Average April had a 640 job gain.
Building services: 120,500 jobs in commercial property operations – up 1,900 for the month and up 5,000 over 12 months, or a 4.3% one-year gain. Average April had a 1,800 job increase.
Lending: 177,200 folks in various credit work was flat for the month and off 2,900 over 12 months, or a 1.6% drop. Average April 2023 had a 240 one-year job loss. This niche remains 13,500 jobs below pre-pandemic levels.
Building supplies: 53,200 sellers of equipment and materials – up 300 for the month and off 1,100 over 12 months, or a 2% drop. Average April had a 660 one-year job increase.
Here’s the breakdown, geographically speaking …
Los Angeles County: 384,600 real estate jobs – up 2,000 for the month and off 3,400 over 12 months, or a 0.9% one-year drop. An average April in 2015-19 had 2,680 hires. Property jobs equal 8.3% of all L.A. workers.
Orange County: 227,900 real estate jobs – up 3,000 for the month and up 200 over 12 months, or a 0.1% one-year gain. An average April in 2015-19 had 1,900 hires. Property jobs equal 13.3% of all O.C. workers.
Inland Empire: 184,100 real estate jobs – up 5,400 for the month and up 400 over 12 months, or a 0.2% one-year gain. An average April in 2015-19 had 2,960 hires. Property jobs equal 11% of all I.E. workers.
PS: Across Southern California, all other industries had 7.2 million workers in April – up 41,700 jobs. Over 12 months, non-real estate jobs are up 162,900. That’s a 2.3% gain. Real estate’s share of local employment was 9.9% last month.
Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com
Former President Donald Trump listens as he speaks with reporters while in flight on his plane after
ABOVE: Equipment is moved out of Apple Tree Dental’s mobile dental office. Fairmont’s loca
Another report is spotlighting the labor shortage woes in the healthcare industry, but this one is focused squarely on the “s
When Gov. Mike DeWine spoke to the Ohio Business Roundtable on Monday, he was promoting his proposed budget items of course, bu