September 19, 2025
Beacon Employment Report | California
Presented by Beacon Economics
Copyright © Beacon Economics LLC
REGIONAL OVERVIEW
Regionally, job gains were led by Southern California in August. Los Angeles (MD) saw the largest increase, with payrolls growing by 5,900, a 0.1% increase. San Diego (1,200 or 0.1%), the Inland Empire (1,000 or 0.1%), Ventura (900 or 0.3%), and El Centro (200 or 0.3%) also saw their payrolls jump. In contrast, payrolls fell in Orange County (-100). Over the past year, El Centro (1.2%) has enjoyed the fastest job growth in the region, followed by San Diego (0.8%), the Inland Empire (0.7%), Orange County (0.4%), Los Angeles (MD) (0.3%), and Ventura (unchanged).
In the Bay Area, San Francisco (MD) experienced the largest increase, with payrolls growing by 1,400 in August, 0.1% increase. The East Bay (500), Napa (200 or 0.3%), and San Rafael (MD) (100 or 0.1%) also saw their payrolls increase during the month. On the other hand, payrolls fell in San Jose (-1,000 -0.1%), Vallejo (-500 or -0.3%), and Santa Rosa (-500 or -0.2%). Over the past 12 months, Napa (3.6%) has seen the fastest job growth in the region, followed by Santa Rosa (0.7%), San Jose (unchanged), San Rafael (MD) (-0.2%), San Francisco (MD) (-0.2%) the East Bay (-0.6%), and Vallejo (-0.7%).
In the Central Valley, Bakersfield (1,000 or 0.3%) experienced the largest monthly increase in August. Payrolls in Visalia (400 or 0.3%), Redding (200 or 0.3%), Yuba (100 or 0.2%), Chico (100 or 0.1%), and Modesto (100 or 0.1%) increased as well. On the other hand, payrolls declined in Fresno (-2,500 or -0.6%), Stockton (-1,000 or -0.4%), Sacramento (-900 or -0.1%), and Merced (-300 or -0.4%). Payrolls were unchanged in Hanford. Over the past year, Yuba (3.1%) has enjoyed the fastest growth, followed by Stockton (2.1%), Merced (1.8%), Chico (1.7%), Bakersfield (1.0%), Visalia (0.6%), Modesto (0.4%), Fresno (0.3%), Redding (0.3%), Sacramento (0.1%), and Hanford (-1.1%).
On California’s Central Coast, Santa Cruz (500 or 0.5%) added the largest number of jobs during the latest month. Payrolls also grew in San Luis Obispo (200 or 0.2%). Payrolls were unchanged in Salinas and Santa Barbara. From August 2024 to August 2025, Santa Cruz (1.6%) has added jobs at the fastest rate, followed by Salinas (0.9%), San Luis Obispo (0.2%), and Santa Barbara (-0.1%).
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