September 18, 2026
Beacon Employment Report | California
Presented by Beacon Economics
Copyright © Beacon Economics LLC
REGIONAL OVERVIEW
Regionally, job gains were led by Southern California. Los Angeles (MD) saw the largest increase, where payrolls grew by 12,700 during August, 0.3% increase. Payrolls were also up in Ventura (1,800 or 0.6%), San Diego (1,400 or 0.1%), the Inland Empire (400), and El Centro (200 or 0.3%). On the other hand, payrolls fell in Orange County (-1,300 or -0.1%). Over the past year, El Centro (2.0%) has seen the fastest job growth in the region, followed by San Diego (0.9%), the Inland Empire (0.4%), Los Angeles (MD) (0.4%), Orange County (0.4%), and Ventura (unchanged).
In the Bay Area, San Jose (3,500 or 0.3%) experienced the largest increase during the month. The East Bay (2,200 or 0.2%), San Francisco (MD) (800 or 0.1%), Santa Rosa (600 or 0.3%), Napa (300 or 0.4%), San Rafael (MD) (200 or 0.2%), and Vallejo (200 or 0.1%) also grew their payrolls in August. Over the past 12 months, Napa (2.2%) has enjoyed the fastest job growth in the region, followed by San Jose (1.8%), Santa Rosa (0.9%), San Francisco (MD) (0.9%), Vallejo (0.5%), the East Bay (0.3%), and San Rafael (MD) (-0.4%).
In the Central Valley, Sacramento had the largest monthly increase, where payrolls grew by 6,500 in August, a 0.6% increase. Payrolls were also up in Stockton (1,300 or 0.5%), Redding (100 or 0.1%), and Yuba (100 or 0.2%). On the other hand, payrolls fell in Fresno (-2,500 or -0.6%), Bakersfield (-900 or -0.3%), Visalia (-300 or -0.2%), Modesto (-300 or -0.2%), Chico (-200 or -0.3%), Hanford (-100 or -0.2%), and Merced (-100 or -0.1%). Over the past year, Redding (4.0%) has experienced the fastest growth, followed by Merced (2.1%), Yuba (1.3%), Fresno (1.3%), Sacramento (0.9%), Hanford (0.7%), Chico (0.3%), Modesto (0.2%), Bakersfield (unchanged), Stockton (unchanged), and Visalia (-0.1%).
On California’s Central Coast, Santa Barbara (2,900 or 0.5%) added the largest number of jobs during the month. Payrolls also grew in San Luis Obispo (600 or 0.5%), Santa Cruz (500 or 0.5%), and Salinas (100 or 0.1%). From August 2025 to August 2026, Santa Barbara (1.3%) has added jobs at the fastest rate, followed by Santa Cruz (0.7%), Salinas (unchanged), and San Luis Obispo (-0.8%).
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