Nonfarm jobs rose 39,400 in August, the strongest gain among the states, but the number of employed workers fell again by 36,500 and is now 278,500 lower than a year ago. California’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.1%, tied with Oregon for the highest in the nation, only as the labor force contracted by a further 50,500 workers.
Seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs fell 20,500 in July, the 49th highest change among the states, while the number of employed workers dropped another 52,200. California’s unemployment rate edged down to 5.1% only as the labor force contracted by a further 70,200 workers, leaving the state with the 3rd highest unemployment rate in the nation.
California nonfarm jobs dipped a preliminary 2,900 in June, ranking 49th among the states and DC, while the state’s 5.2% unemployment rate tied with Oregon and Washington for the highest among the states.
California nonfarm jobs fell 2,900 in the preliminary June estimate, leaving net growth of just 200 since January. The unemployment rate edged down to 5.2% as the labor force declined for a seventh straight month.
California gained a preliminary 3,100 nonfarm jobs in May—21st among the states—while unemployment stayed above 1 million for the 29th straight month, AI adoption lagged at 18th nationally, and the state lost its No. 1 Fortune 500 ranking to Texas.
The Center for Jobs and the Economy’s initial analysis of the May 2026 employment and labor force data. Nonfarm jobs rose 3,100 in the preliminary estimate, while the unemployment rate held at 5.3%.
The Center for Jobs and the Economy’s full April 2026 jobs analysis examines California’s continued lead in R&D investment and the risk posed by proposed corporate tax-credit limits, early benchmark data signaling only marginal revisions to 2025 job estimates, sharply disparate regional job performance led by losses in San Francisco and Los Angeles, weak county-level job projections through 2028, and the state’s persistent unemployment insurance fund deficit.
The Center for Jobs and the Economy has released our initial analysis of the April labor force and jobs data. California’s April nonfarm jobs declined 3,300, with the state’s unemployment rate at 5.3%, tied for the highest among the states.
The Center for Jobs and the Economy has released our initial analysis of the March employment and labor force data. The EDD and BLS releases are again on different schedules. Data for the other states will be addressed in our Full Jobs Report after it is released by Bureau of Labor Statistics next week. For […]
The Center for Jobs and the Economy has released our full analysis of the July Employment Report from the California Employment Development Department. For additional information and data about the California economy visit www.centerforjobs.org/ca.
The Center for Jobs and the Economy has released our initial analysis of the February employment and labor force data. The EDD and BLS releases are again on different schedules. Data for the other states will be addressed in our Full Jobs Report after it is released by Bureau of Labor Statistics next week. For […]
The Center for Jobs and the Economy has released our full analysis of the July Employment Report from the California Employment Development Department. For additional information and data about the California economy visit www.centerforjobs.org/ca.
The Center for Jobs and the Economy has released our initial analysis of the January employment and labor force data. The EDD and BLS releases are again on different schedules. Data for the other states will be addressed in our Full Jobs Report after it is released by Bureau of Labor Statistics next week. For […]
The Center for Jobs and the Economy has released our initial analysis of the December employment and labor force data. The EDD and BLS releases are again on different schedules. Data for the other states will be addressed in our Full Jobs Report after it is released by Bureau of Labor Statistics next week. For […]
The Center for Jobs and the Economy has released our full analysis of the July Employment Report from the California Employment Development Department. For additional information and data about the California economy visit www.centerforjobs.org/ca.