Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) is made available by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and offers monthly data on employment and unemployment for approximately 7,500 geographic areas. Unemployment rates are available monthly by county, MSA, and state level.
These estimates are key indicators of local economic conditions, and may be compared over time to examine changes in the labor market.
For more information regarding the LAUS, please refer to www.bls.gov/lau
Compared to September of last year, all of the main Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in California saw an annual increase in the number of job openings and an increase in the searcher-to-job opening ratio.
Source: BLS
The number of job openings in California decreased from 625,696 in August 2015 to 615,711 in September 2015. The median number of job searchers per job opening across all Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and occupations in California also decreased from 1.47 in August 2015 to 1.27 in September 2015.
Source: BLS
All 4 of the largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in California experienced a decrease in job openings for the month of August.
Los Angeles – Long Beach – Santa Ana
The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana MSA experienced a decrease of 18,134 job openings in August 2015, a -10.4% change from July 2015.
| Month | Total Openings | Percent Monthly Change | |
| Sep-14 | 112,657 | -17.73 | |
| Oct-14 | 121,598 | 7.94 | |
| Nov-14 | 108,123 | -11.08 | |
| Dec-14 | 104,302 | -3.53 | |
| Jan-15 | 140,013 | 34.24 | |
| Feb-15 | 137,967 | -1.46 | |
| Mar-15 | 141,983 | 2.91 | |
| Apr-15 | 164,525 | 15.88 | |
| May-15 | 152,008 | -7.61 | |
| Jun-15 | 148,658 | -2.2 | |
| Jul-15 | 174,288 | 17.24 | |
| Aug-15 | 156,154 | -10.4 |
San Francisco – Oakland – Freemont
The San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont MSA experienced a decrease of 9,854 job openings in August 2015, a -10.95% change from July 2015.
| Month | Total Openings | Percent Monthly Change | |
| Sep-14 | 58,567 | -15.38 | |
| Oct-14 | 63,065 | 7.68 | |
| Nov-14 | 56,940 | -9.71 | |
| Dec-14 | 54,986 | -3.43 | |
| Jan-15 | 72,089 | 31.11 | |
| Feb-15 | 70,884 | -1.67 | |
| Mar-15 | 72,887 | 2.83 | |
| Apr-15 | 84,472 | 15.89 | |
| May-15 | 78,232 | -7.39 | |
| Jun-15 | 77,039 | -1.52 | |
| Jul-15 | 89,946 | 16.75 | |
| Aug-15 | 80,092 | -10.95 |
Riverside – San Bernardino – Ontario
The Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA experienced a decrease of 6,442 job openings in August 2015, a -9.82% change from July 2015.
| Month | Total Openings | Percent Monthly Change |
| Sep-14 | 40,018 | -22.93 |
| Oct-14 | 42,870 | 7.13 |
| Nov-14 | 38,138 | -11.04 |
| Dec-14 | 37,377 | -2 |
| Jan-15 | 52,811 | 41.29 |
| Feb-15 | 52,141 | -1.27 |
| Mar-15 | 53,849 | 3.27 |
| Apr-15 | 62,004 | 15.15 |
| May-15 | 57,837 | -6.72 |
| Jun-15 | 56,343 | -2.58 |
| Jul-15 | 65,608 | 16.44 |
| Aug-15 | 59,166 | -9.82 |
San Diego – Carlsbad – San Marcos
The San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos MSA experienced a decrease of 6,576 job openings in August 2015, a -10.7% change from July 2015.
| Month | Total Openings | Percent Monthly Change |
| Sep-14 | 41,343 | -15.64 |
| Oct-14 | 44,408 | 7.41 |
| Nov-14 | 39,956 | -10.02 |
| Dec-14 | 38,937 | -2.55 |
| Jan-15 | 49,272 | 26.54 |
| Feb-15 | 48,492 | -1.58 |
| Mar-15 | 49,955 | 3.02 |
| Apr-15 | 57,749 | 15.6 |
| May-15 | 53,722 | -6.97 |
| Jun-15 | 52,803 | -1.71 |
| Jul-15 | 61,473 | 16.42 |
| Aug-15 | 54,897 | -10.7 |
Source: BLS
All four of the largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in Texas experienced a decrease in job openings from July 2015 to August 2015.
Dallas
Dallas experienced a decrease of 12,075 job openings from July 2015 to August 2015, a 10.54% decrease.
| Date | Total Openings | Monthly Change | Yearly Change |
| Aug-15 | 102,497 | -10.54% | 43.49% |
| Jul-15 | 114,572 | 16.84% | 27.63% |
| Jun-15 | 98,055 | -1.64% | 8.25% |
| May-15 | 99,685 | -6.84% | 17.59% |
| Apr-15 | 107,005 | 15.49% | 26.59% |
| Mar-15 | 92,653 | 2.87% | 3.43% |
| Feb-15 | 90,072 | -1.85% | 23.93% |
| Jan-15 | 91,770 | 38.18% | 29.39% |
| Dec-14 | 66,413 | -4.20% | -11.31% |
| Nov-14 | 69,326 | -10.74% | 11.28% |
| Oct-14 | 77,670 | 8.74% | 19.49% |
| Sep-14 | 71,430 | -20.43% | -6.57% |
Austin
Austin experienced a decrease of 5,002 job openings from July 2015 to August 2015, a 10.34% decrease.
| Date | Total Openings | Monthly Change | Yearly Change |
| Aug-15 | 43,395 | -10.34% | 34.13% |
| Jul-15 | 48,397 | 15.94% | 26.28% |
| Jun-15 | 41,742 | -1.41% | 7.20% |
| May-15 | 42,340 | -6.27% | 15.22% |
| Apr-15 | 45,170 | 14.25% | 24.68% |
| Mar-15 | 39,536 | 3.03% | 4.12% |
| Feb-15 | 38,372 | -1.78% | 23.78% |
| Jan-15 | 39,066 | 26.19% | 28.32% |
| Dec-14 | 30,957 | -1.84% | -2.14% |
| Nov-14 | 31,539 | -9.03% | 18.96% |
| Oct-14 | 34,670 | 7.17% | 24.53% |
| Sep-14 | 32,352 | -15.59% | -0.45% |
Houston
Houston experienced a decrease of 10,761 job openings from July 2015 to August 2015, a decrease of 10.58%.
| Date | Total Openings | Monthly Change | Yearly Change |
| Aug-15 | 90,902 | -10.58% | 42.04% |
| Jul-15 | 101,663 | 15.95% | 26.61% |
| Jun-15 | 87,680 | -1.05% | 7.20% |
| May-15 | 88,612 | -6.05% | 17.32% |
| Apr-15 | 94,317 | 14.01% | 24.76% |
| Mar-15 | 82,726 | 3.76% | 3.78% |
| Feb-15 | 79,730 | -2.12% | 20.96% |
| Jan-15 | 81,454 | 35.88% | 28.02% |
| Dec-14 | 59,945 | -3.04% | -10.92% |
| Nov-14 | 61,824 | -11.15% | 10.35% |
| Oct-14 | 69,582 | 8.73% | 19.68% |
| Sep-14 | 63,998 | -20.30% | -5.99% |
San Antonio
San Antonio has experienced a decrease of 4,229 job openings from July 2015 to August 2015, a decrease of 9.5%.
| Date | Total Openings | Monthly Change | Yearly Change |
| Aug-15 | 40,261 | -9.50% | 39.77% |
| Jul-15 | 44,490 | 16.80% | 22.88% |
| Jun-15 | 38,089 | -2.36% | 5.32% |
| May-15 | 39,009 | -7.10% | 14.34% |
| Apr-15 | 41,990 | 15.00% | 23.40% |
| Mar-15 | 36,512 | 2.73% | 1.38% |
| Feb-15 | 35,543 | -1.08% | 22.30% |
| Jan-15 | 35,932 | 34.70% | 26.88% |
| Dec-14 | 26,676 | -3.61% | -10.95% |
| Nov-14 | 27,676 | -11.80% | 12.69% |
| Oct-14 | 31,377 | 8.93% | 21.21% |
| Sep-14 | 28,805 | -20.44% | -4.98% |
Source: BLS
The number of job openings in Texas for STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) jobs increased from 48,441 in June to 56,433 in July 2015. The searcher-to-job opening ratio decreased from 1.73 to 1.67 in the same span.
Our definition of STEM jobs: http://www.employstats.com/blog/2014/09/19/growing-national-interest-in-stem-fields-has-focused-our-research/
Source: BLS
Image source: http://projecttomorrowblog.blogspot.com/2013/11/i-am-scientist.html
The top three occupations with the most new job openings in Texas for the month of July were Driver/Sales Workers and Truck Drivers with 1,084 new openings, Managers with 1,061 new openings, and Cashiers with 1,145 new openings.
July 2015
| Occupation | Total Openings | New Openings |
| Driver/Sales Workers and Truck Drivers | 7,552 | 1,084 |
| Managers | 7,951 | 1,061 |
| Cashiers | 7,149 | 1,145 |
Source: BLS
Compared to June of last year, all of the main Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in California saw an annual increase in the number of job openings and decrease in the searcher-to-job opening ratio.
Source: BLS
All four largest MSAs (metropolitan statistical areas) in Texas experienced a decrease in job openings from May 2015 to June 2015.
Dallas
Dallas experienced a decrease of 1,630 job openings from May 2015 to June 2015, a 1.64% decrease.
| Date | Total Openings | Monthly Change | Yearly Change |
| June 2015 | 98,055 | -1.64% | 8.25% |
| May 2015 | 99,685 | -7.56% | 17.59% |
| April 2015 | 107,841 | 16.39% | 27.58% |
| March 2015 | 92,653 | 2.87% | 3.43% |
| February 2015 | 90,072 | -1.85% | 23.93% |
| January 2015 | 91,770 | 38.18% | 29.39% |
| December 2014 | 66,413 | -4.20% | -11.31% |
| November 2014 | 69,326 | -10.74% | 11.28% |
| October 2014 | 77,670 | 8.74% | 19.49% |
| September 2014 | 71,430 | -20.43% | -6.57% |
| August 2014 | 89,770 | -0.90% | 27.29% |
| July 2014 | 90,586 | 6.86% | 28.67% |
Austin
Austin experienced a decrease of 598 job openings from May 2015 to June 2015, a 1.41% decrease.
| Date | Total Openings | Monthly Change | Yearly Change |
| June 2015 | 41,742 | -1.41% | 7.20% |
| May 2015 | 42,340 | -6.97% | 15.22% |
| April 2015 | 45,514 | 15.12% | 25.63% |
| March 2015 | 39,536 | 3.03% | 4.12% |
| February 2015 | 38,372 | -1.78% | 23.78% |
| January 2015 | 39,066 | 26.19% | 28.32% |
| December 2014 | 30,957 | -1.84% | -2.14% |
| November 2014 | 31,539 | -9.03% | 18.96% |
| October 2014 | 34,670 | 7.17% | 24.53% |
| September 2014 | 32,352 | -15.59% | -0.45% |
| August 2014 | 38,327 | -1.57% | 28.78% |
| July 2014 | 38,938 | 5.96% | 28.50% |
Houston
Houston experienced a decrease of 932 job openings from May 2015 to June 2015, a 1.05% decrease.
| Date | Total Openings | Monthly Change | Yearly Change |
| June 2015 | 87,680 | -1.05% | 7.20% |
| May 2015 | 88,612 | -7.15% | 17.32% |
| April 2015 | 95,434 | 15.36% | 26.24% |
| March 2015 | 82,726 | 3.76% | 3.78% |
| February 2015 | 79,730 | -2.12% | 20.96% |
| January 2015 | 81,454 | 35.88% | 28.02% |
| December 2014 | 59,945 | -3.04% | -10.92% |
| November 2014 | 61,824 | -11.15% | 10.35% |
| October 2014 | 69,582 | 8.73% | 19.68% |
| September 2014 | 63,998 | -20.30% | -5.99% |
| August 2014 | 80,299 | -1.83% | 27.86% |
| July 2014 | 81,792 | 8.29% | 29.66% |
San Antonio
San Antonio experienced a decrease of 920 job openings from May 2015 to June 2015, a 2.36% decrease.
| Date | Total Openings | Monthly Change | Yearly Change |
| June 2015 | 38,089 | -2.36% | 5.32% |
| May 2015 | 39,009 | -8.05% | 14.34% |
| April 2015 | 42,425 | 16.19% | 24.67% |
| March 2015 | 36,512 | 2.73% | 1.38% |
| February 2015 | 35,543 | -1.08% | 22.30% |
| January 2015 | 35,932 | 34.70% | 26.88% |
| December 2014 | 26,676 | -3.61% | -10.95% |
| November 2014 | 27,676 | -11.80% | 12.69% |
| October 2014 | 31,377 | 8.93% | 21.21% |
| September 2014 | 28,805 | -20.44% | -4.98% |
| August 2014 | 36,207 | 0.12% | 27.65% |
| July 2014 | 36,164 | 6.00% | 27.85% |
Source: BLS
