University of California Transportation Center

We investigate employment subcenters in the Los Angeles region using 1980 Census journey-to-work data. A simple subcenter definition is used, based solely on gross employment density and total employment. We find a surprising dominance of downtown Los Angeles and three large subcenters with which it forms a nearly contiguous corridor. Two-thirds of the region's employment, however, is outside any of the 32 centers we identify. Most centers have high population densities in and near them, and their workers' commutes are just 2.4 miles longer than other workers' commutes. A cluster analysis of employment by industry reveals several distinct types of centers, and a wide dispersion of sizes and locations within each type.