California payrolls grew by 30,200 in June, jobless rate falls to 8.5%

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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

July 18, 2013 12:59 PM PT

California employers added 30,200 jobs in June, and the unemployment rate fell slightly to 8.5%, down from 8.6% in May, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Thursday.

Hiring kept up its pace last month, with the trade, transportation and utilities sector leading the way. That sector, which includes wholesale retailers, grew by 13,200 jobs last month.

Other industries that added jobs include the education and health services industry, which as a whole grew by 10,200 jobs in June. The leisure and hospitality sector, one of the fastest-growing sectors in the Golden State, added 9,700 jobs last month.

10 fastest-growing jobs in California

The biggest loss of jobs last month was in the professional and business services sector, which shed 3,300 jobs. The construction and financial activities sector also showed small declines, 1,700 and 2,500 respectively.

California has outpaced the U.S. in job growth in the last year. Since June 2012, the state’s payrolls have grown 1.8%, adding 253,900 jobs during that time.

Last month, California dropped out of the running for the highest joblessness rate in the country. Eight other states now have higher rates.

Nevada had the highest, 9.6%. The next highest rates were in Illinois and Mississippi, with 9.2% and 9%, respectively.

Thursday’s report was released prematurely. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said it “inadvertently loaded tables” containing state unemployment data to its website. In a statement, the government agency said it would release the data in an effort to “ensure equal access to the information.”

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