June 19, 2026
Beacon Employment Report | California
Presented by Beacon Economics
Copyright © Beacon Economics LLC
REGIONAL OVERVIEW
Regionally, job gains were led by the Southern California. Los Angeles (MD) saw the largest increase, where payrolls grew by 2,200 during the month. San Diego (1,600 or 0.1%), Orange County (1,100 or 0.1%), Ventura (900 or 0.3%) and El Centro (300 or 0.5%) also expanded their payrolls. On the other hand, payrolls fell in the Inland Empire (-3,200 or -0.2%). Over the past year, San Diego (0.9%) has seen the fastest job growth in the region, followed by El Centro (0.5%), the Inland Empire (0.3%), Los Angeles (MD) (-0.1%), Orange County (-0.3%), and Ventura (-0.7%).
In the Bay Area, San Jose (2,400) experienced the largest increase during the month. San Francisco (MD) (600 or 0.1%) and Napa (300 or 0.4%) also saw their payrolls increase. In contrast, payrolls fell in the East Bay (-2,200 or -0.2%), Vallejo (-800 or -0.5%), Santa Rosa (-200 or -0.1%), and San Rafael (MD) (-100 or -0.1%). Over the past 12 months, San Jose (1.3%) and Napa (1.3%) have seen the fastest job growth in the region, followed by Santa Rosa (0.9%), San Francisco (MD) (0.9%), Vallejo (0.3%), the East Bay (0.1%) and San Rafael (MD) (-0.2%).
In the Central Valley, Fresno (1,200 or 0.3%) experienced the largest monthly increase in May. Payrolls also grew in Hanford (200 or 0.5%), Visalia (200 or 0.1%), Bakersfield (100), Chico (100 or 0.1%), and Stockton (100). On the other hand, payrolls fell in Yuba (-200 or -0.4%) and Redding (-100 or -0.1%). Payrolls were unchanged in Merced, Modesto, and Sacramento. Over the past year, Merced (3.1%) has enjoyed the fastest growth, followed by Yuba (2.3%), Fresno (2.1%), Redding (2.1%), Hanford (1.1%), Modesto (1.1%), Stockton (1.0%), Bakersfield (0.8%), Visalia (0.6%), Sacramento (0.6%), and Chico (-0.4%).
On California’s Central Coast, Salinas (100 or 0.1%) added the largest number of jobs during the month. In contrast, payrolls fell in Santa Barbara (-300 or -0.12%) and were unchanged in Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo. From May 2025 to May 2026, Salinas (0.9%) and Santa Barbara (0.9%) added jobs at the fastest rate, followed by Santa Cruz (0.3%) and San Luis Obispo (-2.1%).
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