San Diego Employment Numbers Trip But Could Regain Footing from High Technology Firms

2014 wasn't a great year for job creation in San Diego as employment numbers left much to be desired. According to the Employment Development Department 30,208 jobs were added to the San Diego economy in 2014 missing economist projections (1). Despite slower than expected growth in construction, professional, health, and scientific jobs the service industry added the most jobs with a 4.86% increase. Employment rates may be on the rise if San Diego focuses closely on high growth industries that already have a solid present in the area.

The numbers are not dismal and could indicate a upward swing for 2015. Service jobs are relatively easy to add and mark a level of rising consumer spending on travel, restaurants, and leisure services that mark optimism. These are some of the first jobs added to the economy before higher paying jobs also make their way onto the market.

Higher paying employment comes after lower skilled service jobs have made their initial appearance. Industries that have higher paying positions add significantly to income and wages in the area but take a little longer to kick in. Companies making larger investments in skill, recruitment, relocation, compensation and salary only add jobs when needed.

There has been a healthy discussion of encouraging technology firms in San Diego. This discussion, in addition to other high growth fields, helps in improving the future labor market by aligning the economy to industries in demand. For example, small business accounts for 2/3 rds of job creation and high growth firms 35% of job gains during the years 2009-2012 (Clayton, et. al. 2013).

Technology industries are in hot demand around the world and gaining high levels of investment. Companies that are in the high technology sectors of pharmaceutical, chemical, communication, navigation, agricultural equipment, science, etc... find themselves growing faster than many other companies. Their abilities to obtain new resources, based on market demand, pushes them forward.

San Diego has a  solid high technology based that can be used to create stronger platforms for growth. Cities that put in place policies that encourage the development and investment in growth industries often magnify growth in these sectors (Jenkins, et. al., 2006). The policies should help funnel international investment into industries that are currently, or will soon be, in high demand globally.

Encouraging those industries that are likely to provide the highest paying jobs and greatest amount of overall economic growth is smart government. It provides an opportunity to employee more people and raise the standard of living for a lot of people. Likewise, investors want a return on capital and high growth industries offer that opportunity. Making sure legislative hurdles are lowered and letting the world know of the local investment offerings in San Diego can make a huge difference in industries that are ready to break out onto the international market.

Clayton, et. al. (2013). High-employment-growth firms: defining and counting them. Monthly Labor Review, 136 (6).

Jenkins, et. al. (2006). Do high technology policies work? High technology industry employment growth in U.S. Metropolitan Areas, 1988-1998. Social Forces, 85 (1).