Beacon Employment Report California – Regional Overview

Los Angeles (MD) saw the largest decrease, where payrolls fell by 33,400 positions during the month. Orange County (-7,800), San Diego (-3,500), Ventura (-2,700), and the Inland Empire (-2,200) also saw payrolls drop during the month. Over the past year, El Centro (-9.4%) has experienced the steepest job losses in the region, measured by percentage decrease, followed by Los Angeles (MD) (-9.1%), Orange County (-8.5%), Ventura (-8.2%), the Inland Empire (-7.2%), and San Diego (-6.9%).

In the San Francisco Bay Area, San Jose experienced the largest decrease, with payrolls falling by 7,800 positions in December. San Francisco (MD) (-6,700), San Rafael (MD) (-1,400), and Santa Rosa (-1,100) also saw payrolls decline during the month. From a year-over-year perspective, the San Francisco (MD) (-9.9%) has had the steepest declines in the Bay Area, followed by the East Bay (-9.6%), San Rafael (MD) (-9.5%), Santa Rosa (-9.2%), Vallejo (-8.8%), Napa (-8.0%), and San Jose (-6.9%).

In the Central Valley, Fresno and Visalia experienced the largest monthly decline in payrolls, with payrolls declining by 1,800 positions in each metro in December. Payrolls in Stockton (-700) and Modesto (-700) declined as well. Over the last year, Yuba (-14.5%) had the steepest declines, followed by Chico (-10.5%), Modesto (-8.7%), Bakersfield (-8.1%), Hanford (-7.2%), Merced (-7.0%), and Stockton (-6.9%).

On California’s Central Coast, San Luis Obispo added the largest number of jobs, with payrolls increasing by 2,200 during the month. In contrast, payrolls in Santa Barbara (-300), Santa Cruz (-200), and Salinas (-200) declined during the month. From a year-over-year perspective, Santa Cruz (-13.0%) shed positions at the fastest rate, followed by San Luis Obispo (-11.6%), Salinas (-10.3%), and Santa Barbara (-7.5%).