The recession in hard-hit California isn't over yet, but 2010 labor market projections released last week forecast modest growth that could outpace neighboring Arizona and Nevada.
The report, from Massachusetts-based economic analysis firm IHS Global Insight, predicts 0.9 percent job growth by year's end in California, compared with fourth quarter 2009.
"California, first into the housing cycle, emerges well ahead of its Southwest neighbors," the report says.
Nevada and Arizona, also hit hard by the housing crisis, are not expected to post job growth this year, IHS Global said.
IHS analysts expect 38 states and the District of Columbia to post net job gains by the end of the year. Washington, D.C., is expected to top the list at 1.6 percent job growth compared with the final three months of 2009. Just three states – Texas, Virginia and Washington – are expected to exceed 1 percent growth, analysts said.
High-tech and manufacturing will be California's job leaders in 2010, Jim Diffley, IHS Global Insight senior regional economist, said Friday.
The state's beleaguered construction sector will continue to lag in 2010, but, "California's bottoming out is a little bit ahead of the curve," Diffley said.
Even with California's projected job gains, the state's continuing budget woes and high unemployment will continue to drag down any larger recovery, he said.
"California's more recent budget problems have pushed down to the local level, and unemployment should stay above 12 percent. It won't be until next year that we see unemployment come down," Diffley said.
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The Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, have come to a close, but Internet jobs site Indeed.com is handing out the medals, bestowing its own gold, silver and bronze on companies that posted the most new job opportunities in January.
Retailer JC Penney placed first with more than 7,200 new job postings in January.
Indeed.com's silver went to Virginia-based Science Applications International Corp, with almost 5,500 new listings in science and engineering fields. Communications giant AT&T finished third, posting nearly 4,200 new jobs in retail and corporate operations.
Indeed.com reported the figures on its jobs blog site, blog.indeed.com.
Rounding out the list of most jobs posted were JP Morgan Chase, Sears, UnitedHealth Group, defense firm BAE Systems, Comcast, L-3 Communications and Hilton.
The 10 companies posted a total of approximately 32,000 new job opportunities nationwide in January, Indeed.com reported.
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Raging Waters Sacramento is making waves with plans to hire dozens of seasonal employees for its summer season. A job fair is scheduled March 27 at Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Blvd., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Applicants can also visit Raging Waters online at www.rwsac.com.
The water park, which opens May 15, seeks employees for jobs in concessions, park services, finance, human resources and other positions.
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EmploymentGuide.com, a career information Web site, will host its first career fair this year on Wednesday at Heald College, 7 Sierra Gate Plaza, in Roseville.
The free event, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., will include employers seeking to fill hourly positions in customer service, hospitality, sales and other fields.
Job seekers can find more information and pre-register at http://sacramento.employ-mentguide.com. (Select "Job Fairs.)
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