October 16, 2026
Beacon Employment Report | California
Presented by Beacon Economics
Copyright © Beacon Economics LLC
REGIONAL OVERVIEW
In Southern California, San Diego experienced the largest increase, where payrolls grew by 3,100 during the month, 0.2% increase. Payrolls were also up in El Centro (200 or 0.3%). On the other hand, payrolls fell in Los Angeles (MD) (-3,400 or -0.1%), Ventura (-700 or -0.2%), Orange County (-400), and the Inland Empire (-300). Over the past year, El Centro (2.2%) has seen the fastest job growth in the region, followed by San Diego (1.2%), Orange County (0.5%), Los Angeles (MD) (0.4%), the Inland Empire (0.2%), and Ventura (-0.6%).
In the Bay Area, San Jose (1,100 or 0.1%) enjoyed the largest increase during the month. San Rafael (MD) (300 or 0.3%), Vallejo (300 or 0.2%), San Francisco (MD) (200), and Santa Rosa (100) also grew their payrolls. In contrast, the East Bay (-2,800 or -0.2%) and Napa (-200 or -0.3%) lost jobs. Over the past 12 months, Napa (1.9%) has experienced the fastest job growth in the region, followed by San Jose (1.8%), Santa Rosa (1.1%), San Francisco (MD) (0.9%), Vallejo (0.8%), San Rafael (MD) (0.3%), and the East Bay (unchanged).
Regionally, job gains were led by the Central Valley. Fresno saw the largest increase, where payrolls grew by 1,100 during the month, a 0.2% increase. Payrolls were also up in Sacramento (800 or 0.1%), Bakersfield (400 or 0.1%), Merced (300 or 0.4%), and Chico (100 or 0.1%). On the other hand, payrolls fell in Stockton (-400 or -0.1%), Hanford (-400 or -0.9%), Visalia (-300 or -0.2%), Modesto (-200 or -0.1%), and Redding (-100 or -0.1%) and were unchanged in Yuba. Over the past year, Redding (3.9%) has enjoyed the fastest growth, followed by Fresno (2.4%), Merced (2.4%), Yuba (1.5%), Chico (1.3%), Stockton (1.0%), Sacramento (0.9%), Modesto (0.4%), Bakersfield (unchanged), Visalia (unchanged), and Hanford (-0.7%).
On California’s Central Coast, Santa Barbara (300 or 0.2%) added the largest number of jobs during the month. Payrolls fell in Salinas (-500 or -0.3%) and San Luis Obispo (-200 or -0.2%) and were unchanged in Santa Cruz. From September 2025 to September 2026, Santa Barbara (1.0%) has added jobs at the fastest rate, followed by Salinas (0.8%), Santa Cruz (0.8%), and San Luis Obispo (-0.5%).
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