May 16, 2025
Beacon Employment Report | California
Presented by Beacon Economics
Copyright © Beacon Economics LLC
REGIONAL OVERVIEW
Regionally, April’s job gains were led by Southern California. The Inland Empire enjoyed the largest increase, with payrolls growing by 3,800 during the month, a 0.2% jump. San Diego (1,800 or 0.1%) and Los Angeles (MD) (400) also saw their payrolls rise during the month. On the other hand, payrolls decreased in Orange County (-300) and Ventura (-100), while they went unchanged in El Centro. Over the past year, San Diego (06%) has experienced the fastest job growth in the region, followed by the Inland Empire (0.5%), El Centro (0.5%), Ventura (0.4%), Orange County (0.2%), and Los Angeles (MD) (0.1%).
In the Bay Area, San Jose saw the largest job increase, with payrolls growing by 2,900 during the month, a 0.3% increase. Payrolls also grew in the East Bay (800 or 0.2%), Santa Rosa (400 or 0.2%), and San Rafael (MD) (300 or 0.3%). Over the past 12 months, Napa (3.3%) enjoyed the fastest job growth in the region, followed by San Rafael (MD) (1.2%), Santa Rosa (0.4%), San Jose (-0.2%), Vallejo (-0.6%), San Francisco (MD) (-0.6%), and the East Bay (-0.7%).
In the Central Valley, Sacramento (3,300 or 0.3%) experienced the largest monthly increase in April. Payrolls in Fresno (300 or 0.1%), Visalia (300 or 0.2%), Bakersfield (100), and Redding (100 or 0.1%) increased as well. On the other hand, payrolls declined in Hanford (-400 or -0.9%), Stockton (-200 or -0.1%), and Chico (-100 or -0.1%). Payrolls went unchanged in Merced, Modesto, and Yuba. Over the past year, Modesto (2.4%) has enjoyed the fastest growth, followed by Yuba (2.3%), Stockton (1.8%), Fresno (1.8%), Merced (1.6%), Redding (1.5%), Chico (1.5%), Sacramento (0.9%), Bakersfield (0.8%), Visalia (0.6%), and Hanford (0.2%).
On California’s Central Coast, Salinas (200 or 0.41%) added the largest number of jobs during the month. In contrast, payrolls in San Luis Obispo (-200 or -0.2%) and Santa Barbarba (-100 or 0.1%) decreased, while they were unchanged in Santa Cruz. From April 2024 to April 2025, Salinas (2.0%) has added jobs at the fastest rate, followed by Santa Cruz (2.8%), San Luis Obispo (-0.3%), and Santa Barbara (-0.3%).
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