April 17, 2026

Beacon Employment Report | California

Presented by Beacon Economics

REGIONAL OVERVIEW

MAIN PAGE

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

CENTRAL VALLEY

In Southern California, El Centro experienced the largest increase, as payrolls grew by 200 during the month, a 0.13% increase. Payrolls fell in Los Angeles (MD) (-13,100 or -0.3%), Orange County (-8,600 or -0.5%), the Inland Empire (-6,500 or -0.4%), San Diego (-4,800 or -0.3%), and Ventura (-1,000 or -0.3%). Over the past year, El Centro (0.7%) has seen the fastest job growth in the region, followed by the Inland Empire (0.6%), San Diego (0.4%), Los Angeles (MD) (0.3%), Orange County (-0.2%), and Ventura (-0.3%).

Regionally, job gains were led by the Bay Area. San Jose enjoyed the largest increase, where payrolls grew by 2,000 during February, a 0.2% increase. San Francisco (MD) (1,100 or 0.1%), the East Bay (600 or 0.1%), Napa (300 or 0.4%), and San Rafael (MD) (300 or 0.3%) also saw their payrolls increase during the month. On the other hand, payrolls fell in Santa Rosa (-800 or -0.4%) and Vallejo (-500 or -0.3%). Over the past 12 months, San Jose (1.6%) has experienced the fastest job growth in the region, followed by Santa Rosa (1.1%), Napa (1.1%), San Francisco (MD) (0.7%), San Rafael (MD) (0.4%), the East Bay (0.4%), and Vallejo (0.1%).

In the Central Valley, Fresno (1,400 or 0.2%) experienced the largest monthly increase in February. On the other hand, payrolls fell in Visalia (-600 or -0.4%), Sacramento (-400), Bakersfield (-400 or -0.1%), Stockton (-200 or -0.1%), Redding (-200 or- 0.3%), Modesto (-200 or -0.1%), Merced (-2200 or -0.3%), Yuba (-100 or -0.2%), and Hanford (-100 or -0.2%). Payrolls went unchanged in Chico. Over the past year, Yuba (3.9%) has enjoyed the fastest growth, followed by Merced (3.4%), Redding (2.6%), Stockton (2.6%), Fresno (1.4%), Bakersfield (1.2%), Modesto (0.9%), Sacramento (0.9%), Visalia (0.6%), Hanford (-0.2%), and Chico (-0.3%).

CENTRAL COAST

On California’s Central Coast, Salinas (900 or 0.65%) added the largest number of jobs during the month. Payrolls also grew in Santa Cruz (200 or 0.2%) and Santa Barbara (100 or 0.1%) while they fell in San Luis Obispo (-200 or -0.2%). From February 2025 to February 2026, Santa Cruz (1.1%) added jobs at the fastest rate, followed by Salinas (1.0%), Santa Barbara (0.6%), and San Luis Obispo (-2.0%).