Last week we looked at the overall drop in employment for the Coachella Valley due to the impacts of COVID-19. This week we will dissect these job losses by examining losses in specific industry sectors. I reconfigured the data in Figures 18A and 18B from the 2020 Greater Palm Springs Economic Report into a more understandable table to better show the comparative share of losses in each segment. The first table shows the actual number of jobs lost in the Valley’s nine cities, while the second table shows these losses in percentages. The second column in each table refers to the difference between the number of jobs in February, before COVID restrictions were enacted, and the greatest decline in the period up to June 2020, the latest data available as of publishing the report. The third column shows how many of these jobs lost between February and June had been recovered by June. 

It has been widely reported that the downturn has affected business sectors unevenly, with sectors that rely more on face-to-face interaction, such as Leisure and Hospitality, showing significantly higher job losses. The data for the valley reinforces this, with Leisure and Hospitality and Retail Trade showing the highest job losses. While these sectors did see some recovery by June, we are still a long way from fully recovering these jobs. And historically, our recoveries in the Valley have taken longer than the rest of the state and the U.S. 

Because the Leisure and Hospitality and Retail Trade sectors employ so many in the valley, it is important to look at losses relevant to the total employed in each sector to show the proportion of jobs lost due to the pandemic. Here we see Other Services and Information with the second and third highest percentage losses. The Other Services sector includes close contact jobs like hairstylists, cosmetologists, and laundry and dry-cleaning workers. These jobs also disproportionately employ women and minorities. The Information sector employs very few in the valley, so any jobs lost can represent a large percent drop in this sector. 

Do you need data visualizations for your business plan, strategic planning, business expansion, or marketing planning? Get in touch with us.

Click here to view and discuss on Facebook.

CVEP's Million Mask Giveaway continues to support the Coachella Valley small business community by providing masks, hand sanitizer, and face shields at no cost. With so many face-to-face sectors now reopening with modifications, this protective equipment is more important than ever. Visit the Million Mask Giveaway page or contact your city for details.

Businesses with electricity loads over 150kW may be eligible for Economic Development Rates from Southern California Edison. These discounted rates are designed to attract, retain, and expand business operations which otherwise would select or move to sites out-of-state. Businesses must meet several criteria to qualify. Download the fact sheet for more information.

Have you ever daydreamed about winning a federal contract for your small business? Learn about three programs that can help make that dream a realistic one: the Woman-Owned Small Business Set-Aside Program, the HUBZone Program, and the 8(a) Business Development Program. There are several upcoming webinar dates to learn more about these programs: the first is February 17. Sign up online for free.

The SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Paycheck Protection Plan loans are open for applications. Join Riverside County 4th District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez for a town hall on Tuesday, February 16 at 10:00 a.m. to hear updates on the program as well as other funding opportunities. Register online.

Small businesses in Riverside or San Bernardino Counties that need legal assistance: Inland Counties Legal Services is hosting a no-cost clinic on Wednesday, February 17 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Space is limited and pre-registration is required! This free legal clinic is specially designed to offer an opportunity for business owners to meet with and talk to attorneys about specific business issues. Download the flyer for more information: ICLS Small Business Legal Clinic: Commercial Leases & Other Business Issues.