Beacon Employment Report California – Regional Overview

Growth was mixed in Southern California. The Inland Empire saw the largest increase, where payrolls grew by 3,300 (0.2%) during the month. San Diego (3,200 or 0.2%), El Centro (100 or 0.2%), and Ventura (100 or 0.0%) also saw payrolls jump during the month. Los Angeles (MD) experienced the largest decrease, where payrolls fell 18,400 (-0.4%). Orange County (-2,200 or -0.1%) also saw payrolls decline during the month. The Inland Empire (77.5%) has experienced the strongest recovery in the region, followed by Orange County (65.0%), Ventura (64.5%), San Diego (58.6%), El Centro (58.3%), and Los Angeles (MD) (54.4%).

Job gains in the state were led by the San Francisco Bay Area. San Francisco (MD) and San Jose experienced the largest increase, with payrolls expanding by 6,000 (0.5%) positions in September. San Rafael (MD) (500 or 0.5%) and the East Bay (200 or 0.0%) also saw payrolls expand during the month. Since April 2020, San Rafael (MD) (72.2%) has experienced the strongest recovery in the region, measured by the percentage of jobs recovered from April 2020 to September 2021 relative to the jobs lost from February 2020 to April 2020. This is followed by Napa (63.4%), San Jose (59.4%), Vallejo (58.6%), Santa Rosa (54.0%), the East Bay (49.2%), and San Francisco (MD) (47.9%).

In the Central Valley, Modesto experienced the largest monthly increase as payrolls expanding by 1,300 (0.7%) positions in September. Payrolls in Sacramento (1,100 or 0.1%), Visalia (800 or 0.6%), Redding (500 or 0.7%), Bakersfield (400 or 0.2%), Fresno (300 or 0.1%) Stockton (200 or 0.1%), and Hanford (100 or 0.3%) increased steadily as well. Since April 2020, Stockton (92.5%) has experienced the strongest recovery in the region, followed by Redding (90.9%), Modesto (74.4%), Sacramento (69.5%), Merced (66.7%), and Fresno (65.6%).

On California’s Central Coast, Santa Barbara added the largest number of jobs, with payrolls increasing by 2,800 (1.5%) In September. Santa Cruz (300 or 0.3%) and San Luis Obispo (200 or 0.82%) also saw payrolls expand. Since April 2020, Santa Barbara (76.6%) has experienced the strongest recovery in the region, followed by Salinas (67.5%), Santa Cruz (51.2%), and San Luis Obispo (49.8%).