California employers add 12,000 jobs; jobless rate falls to 10.6%

The state’s labor market slowed in August as California employers added only 12,000 nonfarm jobs last month, the 13th straight month of net job gains.

The unemployment rate dipped slightly, to 10.6% from 10.7%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Employers across six industries added jobs, with education and health services posting the largest over-the-month increase with 8,900 jobs. The leisure and hospitality industry added 4,400 jobs.

California employers shed jobs in other industries such as professional and business services, which lost 2,300 jobs. The steepest job losses, however, were in government, which shed 7,400 jobs last month.

The report also showed that the state’s labor force shrunk by 77,100 in August as job seekers stopped actively looking for work.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics also reported that July’s job gains were revised downward. The state added 17,900 jobs that month instead of 25,200, as initially reported. In the last year, California employers have added 298,700 net jobs.

California has the third-highest unemployment rate, behind Nevada, which saw its jobless rate rise to 12.1% in August, and Rhode Island at 10.7%.

ALSO:

Housing starts, home sales climb in August

State is benefitting from high-tech boom, UCLA economists say

New unemployment claims edge down, a sign of slowish job growth

ricardo.lopez2@latimes.com

Follow Ricardo Lopez on Twitter.