Study Finds High Ratio of Jobs to Population

The San Fernando Valley has more jobs available relative to its population than Los Angeles County as a whole, according to a study by the Valley Industry and Commerce Assn., a business trade group.

The Valley has 470 jobs for every 1,000 residents, or 13% more jobs per population than the 417-per-1,000 ratio for the county, the group said. As recently as 1982, the Valley’s ratio trailed Los Angeles County’s by 12%, VICA said.

The Valley overall has a population of 1.3 million and 38,590 business establishments employing 595,000 people--with 76% of the businesses employing 10 workers or less, the group said. Business employment jumped 36% between 1982 and 1986, more than triple the 11% gain in the county.

The figures are based on data from 1986 through 1989, depending on what information was the most recent available, VICA said.