Farm Workers Growing Fewer
Agriculture was once the mainstay of the county’s economy, but growing things is no longer a growth industry here. According to data furnished by the California Employment Development Department, just 5,500 people were employed in the agricultural, forestry and fisheries category in January, a 1.8% drop from the year-earlier quarter. Those industries represent less than 1% of total county jobs.
Industry Jan. 1989 Jan. 1988 % Change Total All Industries 1,141,600 1,109,900 +2.9 Agricultural, forestry and fisheries 5,500 5,600 -1.8 Non-agricultural total 1,136,100 1,104,300 +2.9 Mining 1,300 1,400 -7.1 Contract construction 66,000 63,400 +4.1 Manufacturing 257,500 251,600 +2.3 Non-Durable goods 69,100 64,800 +6.6 Food and kindred products 9,700 9,500 +2.1 Textile mill products 3,400 3,000 +13.3 Apparel and other textile products 5,200 4,500 +15.6 Paper and allied products 4,100 4,100 nc Printing and publishing 18,500 17,400 +6.3 Chemicals and allied products 8,700 8,200 +6.1 Petroleum and coal products 1,900 1,900 nc Rubber and plastic products 17,300 15,900 +8.8 Leather and leather products 300 300 nc Durable goods 188,400 186,800 +0.9 Lumber and wood products 4,800 5,200 -7.7 Furniture and fixtures 8,900 8,300 +7.2 Stone, clay and glass products 3,700 3,700 nc Primary metal industries 2,500 2,500 nc Fabricated metal products 21,300 22,200 -4.1 Machinery, except electrical 31,000 29,700 +4.4 Electrical and electronic machines 62,000 63,800 -2.8 Transportation equipment 31,800 29,900 +6.4 Instruments and related products 17,300 16,700 +3.6 Miscellaneous manufacturing 5,100 4,800 +6.3 Transportation and public utilities 34,000 33,400 +1.8 Wholesale trade 72,800 66,200 +10.0 Retail trade 213,300 209,100 +2.0 Finance, insurance and real estate 89,400 91,300 -2.1 Services 282,200 271,500 +3.9 Government 119,000 116,400 +2.2 Federal 16,000 15,800 +1.3 State and local, incl. education 103,000 100,600 +2.4 Aerospace subtotal 96,600 96,400 +0.2
Source: California Employment Development Department
