Almost Half-Million Jobs Added Since ’77

There are fewer miners working in Orange County than 12 years ago, but almost all other occupations have recorded double-digit growth in that period. Between 1977 and January, 1989, there was a net increase of 459,700 jobs in the county, or 67.4%, according to the state Employment Development Department.

Since 1980, the county has been adding jobs almost as fast as it has been adding residents. There was a net increase of 250,900 jobs between 1980 and 1987, according to EDD data, while the state estimates that the population increased 305,800 during that period to 2,238,700.

Industry 1977 (Avg) Jan. 1989 % Change Total All Industries 681.9 1141.6 +67.4 Agricultural, forestry and fisheries 7.7 5.5 -28.6 Non-agricultural total 674.2 1,136.1 +68.5 Mining 2.1 1.3 -38.1 Contract construction 36.7 66.0 +79.8 Manufacturing 175.0 257.5 +47.1 Non-durable goods 43.8 69.1 +57.8 Food and kindred products 8.3 9.7 +16.9 Textile mill products 1.8 3.4 +88.9 Apparel and other textile products 2.6 5.2 +100.0 Paper and allied products 3.7 4.1 +10.8 Printing and publishing 8.3 18.5 +123 Chemicals and petroleum products 8.3 10.6 +27.7 Rubber and plastic products 10.7 17.3 +61.7 Leather and leather products 0.1 0.3 +200.0 Durable goods 131.2 188.4 +43.6 Lumber and wood products 3.9 4.8 +23.1 Furniture and fixtures 4.9 8.9 +81.6 Stone, clay and glass products 3.0 3.7 +23.3 Primary metal industries 2.0 2.5 +25.0 Fabricated metal products 14.6 21.3 +45.9 Machinery, except electrical 22.7 31.0 +36.6 Electrical and electronic machines 42.5 62.0 +45.9 Transportation equipment 19.0 31.8 +67.4 Instruments and related products 12.5 17.3 +38.4 Miscellaneous manufacturing 6.1 5.1 -16.4 Transportation and public utilities 20.6 34.0 +65 Wholesale trade 30.4 72.8 +139 Retail trade 132.5 213.3 +61.0 Finance, insurance and real estate 39.7 89.4 +125.2 Services 136.1 282.2 +107.4 Government 101.2 119.0 +17.6 Federal 9.4 16.0 +70.2 State and local, incl. education 92.1 103.0 +11.8 Aerospace subtotal NA 96.6 NA

Source: California Employment Development Department