August 15, 2025
Beacon Employment Report | California
Presented by Beacon Economics
Copyright © Beacon Economics LLC
REGIONAL OVERVIEW
Regionally, job gains were led by Southern California. The Inland Empire saw the largest increase, as payrolls grew by 3,400 during the month, a 0.2% expansion. Los Angeles (MD) (2,500 or 0.1%) and Orange County (2,300 or 0.1%) also saw their payrolls jump during the month. In contrast, payrolls fell in San Diego (-400) and Ventura (-200 or -0.1%) and were unchanged in El Centro. Over the past year, the Inland Empire (1.0%) enjoyed the fastest job growth in the region, followed by El Centro (0.7%), San Diego (0.7%), Los Angeles (MD) (0.3%), Orange County (0.2%), and Ventura (-0.2%).
In the Bay Area, the East Bay experienced the largest increase, as payrolls grew by 900 during the month, a 0.1% increase. San Francisco (MD) (800 or 0.1%), San Jose (800 or 0.1%), Santa Rosa (400 or 0.2%), and San Rafael (MD) (100 or 0.1%) also saw their payrolls increase during the month. On the other hand, payrolls declined in Vallejo (-200 or -0.1%) and were unchanged in Napa. Over the past 12 months, Napa (3.6%) has enjoyed the fastest job growth in the region, followed by Santa Rosa (0.6%), San Jose (0.1%), San Rafael (MD) (-0.4%), Vallejo (-0.5%), San Francisco (MD) (-0.5%), and the East Bay (-0.7%).
In the Central Valley, Stockton (1,800 or 0.6%) experienced the largest monthly increase in July. Payrolls in Fresno (900 or 0.2%), Sacramento (600 or 0.1%), Bakersfield (400 or 0.1%), Merced (400 or 0.5%), Chico (300 or 0.4%), and Redding (300 or 0.4%) increased as well. On the other hand, payrolls declined in Visalia (-300 or -0.2%) and Modesto (-200 or -0.1%) and went unchanged in Hanford and Yuba. Over the past year, Stockton (3.0%) has experienced the fastest growth, followed by Chico (2.4%), Yuba (2.3%), Redding (2.1%), Merced (2.0%), Modesto (1.8%), Fresno (1.4%), Bakersfield (0.6%), Visalia (0.4%), Sacramento (0.4%), and Hanford (-0.9%).
On California’s Central Coast, Santa Barbara (300 or 0.2%) added the largest number of jobs during the month. Payrolls also grew in San Luis Obispo (100 or 0.1%). In contrast, payrolls declined in Salinas (-200 or 0.1%) and Santa Barbara (-100 or -0.1%) and went unchanged in San Luis Obispo. From July 2024 to July 2025, Santa Cruz (1.3%) added jobs at the fastest rate, followed by Salinas (1.0%), Santa Barbara (-0.1%), and San Luis Obispo (-0.3%).
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