California adds 29,100 jobs; state unemployment rate ticks up to 8.9%

1/9

The number of biomedical engineers is projected to grow nearly 68% from 4,000 in 2010 to 6,700 in 2020, according to the California Employment Development Department. The median annual wage for this career is $81,540, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures. (John Amis / Associated Press)

2/9

Home health aides provide individualized healthcare to elderly, convalescent or people with disabilities at the patient’s home or in a care facility. The number of aides is projected to grow 52% to 93,100 in 2020, according to the state Employment Development Department. The mean annual wage for these jobs is $21,830, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Joe Raedle/ Getty Images)

3/9

The number of carpenter helpers is projected to swell nearly 52% to 4,700 in 2020, according to state employment projections. The mean annual wage for these workers, who assist carpenters, is $27,230, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

4/9

Market research analysts study market conditions and help examine potential sales of a product or service. The number of these types of analysts is projected to grow 45.8% to 78,300, according to state estimates. The median annual wage of marketing specialists was $60,570, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Ulrich Baumgarten/Getty Images)

5/9

Masons use bricks, concrete blocks and stones to build fences, walkways and other structures. The number of mason helpers is expected to grow 45.7% by 2020, swelling to 5,100, according to state projects. The median annual wage of brickmasons was $46,930, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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Personal care aides are similar to home health aids, which landed at No. 2 on this list. Personal care aides, however, also make beds, prepare meals and perform other duties at a patient’s home or residential nursing facility. The number of jobs in this field is projected to grow to 462,900 by 2020, a 43% growth rate from 2010. The mean annual wage is about $20,830, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

7/9

The number of emergency medical technicians and paramedics is projected to grow to 22,600, a 42% increase, according to state estimates. The median annual wage of EMTs and paramedics was $30,360 in 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

8/9

The number of museum curators is expected to grow 40% to 1,400 in 2020, according to the state’s Employment Development Department. The median annual wage of curators is $48,450, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

9/9

The number of marriage and family therapists is projected to grow to 14,900 by 2020, according to state projects. That’s a growth rate of 39%. The mean annual salary for these types of therapists is $49,270, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

By Ricardo Lopez

Sept. 20, 2013 7:33 AM PT

California employers added 29,100 payroll jobs in August, posting one of the largest job gains in the nation but the unemployment rate still ticked up to 8.9% from 8.7% the month before, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.

Job gains were broad in the Golden State last month, with seven sectors adding new positions. The construction sector led the job growth in August, expanding by 7,700 jobs.

The white-collar sector of professional and business services, which includes well-paying jobs such as lawyers, accountants and architects, added 6,300 jobs last month.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that trade, transportation and utilities shed 1,600 jobs in August.

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Since August 2012, California employers have added 223,900 net jobs. The state continues outpacing the U.S. in nonfarm payroll growth, but the rate has slowed slightly to 1.5% in the last year. Earlier this year, California’s payroll growth rate hovered closer to 2%.

Nevada had the highest unemployment rate last month at 9.5% followed by Illinois at 9.2%.

Friday’s jobs report follows the announcement this week by the Federal Reserve to keep in place its monetary stimulus policy. Fed chairman Ben S. Bernanke said this week that economic conditions had not improved enough to begin tapering its $85-billion monthly bond purchases.

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ricardo.lopez@latimes.com