August 21, 2026
Beacon Employment Report | California
Presented by Beacon Economics
Copyright © Beacon Economics LLC
REGIONAL OVERVIEW
In Southern California, El Centro saw the largest increase, where payrolls grew by 100 during the month, 0.2% increase. On the other hand, payrolls fell in San Diego (-3,900 or -0.2%), Los Angeles (MD) (-1,800), the Inland Empire (-900 or -0.1%), Ventura (-800 or -0.3%), and Orange County (-100). Over the past year, San Diego (0.7%) has experienced the fastest job growth in the region, followed by the Inland Empire (0.5%), Los Angeles (MD) (0.5%), Orange County (0.4), El Centro (-0.3%), and Ventura (-0.5%).
In the Bay Area, San Jose (3,300 or 0.3%) experienced the largest increase during the month. The East Bay (1,100 or 0.1%), Vallejo (200 or 0.1%), and San Rafael (MD) (100 or 0.1%) also saw their payrolls increase. On the down side, payrolls fell in San Francisco (MD) (-1,400 or -0.1%), Santa Rosa (-900 or -0.4%), and Napa (-100 or -0.1%). Over the past 12 months, Napa (2.2%) has enjoyed the fastest job growth in the region, followed by San Jose (1.4%), Vallejo (0.8%), San Francisco (MD) (0.7%), Santa Rosa (0.5%), the East Bay (unchanged), and San Rafael (MD) (-0.2%).
Regionally, job gains were led by the Central Valley. Bakersfield saw the largest increase, where payrolls grew by 2,300 during the month, a 0.8% increase. Payrolls were also up in Fresno (1,400 or 0.3%), Stockton (1,100 or 0.4%), Redding (600 or 0.8%), Visalia (600 or 0.4%), and Chico (0.4%). On the other hand, payrolls fell in Sacramento (-2,500 or -0.2%), Modesto (-400 or -0.2%), Yuba (-300 or -0.6%), and Merced (-100 or -0.1%). Payrolls were unchanged in Hanford. Over the past year, Redding (2.8%) has seen the fastest growth, followed by Fresno (2.2%), Yuba (1.5%), Visalia (1.5%), Stockton (1.4%), Merced (1.3%), Hanford (1.1%), Modesto (0.9%), Bakersfield (0.7%), Chico (0.5%), and Sacramento (0.4%).
On California’s Central Coast, Santa Cruz (200 or 0.2%) added the largest number of jobs during the month. On the other hand, payrolls fell in Santa Barbara (-2,100 or -1.1%) and Salinas (-100 or -0.1%) and were unchanged in Santa Luis Obispo. From July 2025 to July 2026, Santa Cruz (0.7%) added jobs at the fastest rate, followed by Salinas (0.5%), Santa Barbara (0.4%) and San Luis Obispo (-1.5%).
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