How many jobs were lost in California last month?
Updated Apr. 14, 2026Refreshed annually
California gained 93,500 jobs in January 2026, ranking it first among states in job growth. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' state employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the state has averaged about 35,800 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
+93.5K
month to month change in number of jobs (January 2026)
1st
rank among states in monthly job growth (January 2026)
January 2026's gain of 93,500 jobs was the 4th consecutive month of positive job growth in California. Monthly job growth was up from the 3,500 new jobs in December 2025.
During the latest five year period (February 2021 to January 2026), California gained jobs in 43 out of 60 months. October 2021 had the ninth-highest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in October 2021 (+244,600) while job growth was weakest in February 2024 (-71,200).
There were 93,500 more jobs in January 2026 in California than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, February 2021–January 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which California sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in January 2026?
During the latest five year period (February 2021 to January 2026), California gained jobs in 43 out of 60 months. October 2021 had the ninth-highest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in October 2021 (+244,600) while job growth was weakest in February 2024 (-71,200).
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in January 2026 were health care and social assistance, accommodation and food services, and other services. Health care and social assistance added 24,000 jobs. Accommodation and food services gained 19,600 jobs, while other services added 11,400. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The health care and social assistance sector gained 24,000 jobs during January 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in California (January 2026)
How does California's job growth in 2025 compare to previous years?
In 2025, the state has lost an average of 933 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 12,800, and the lowest since 2020. The 2025 average ranks as fourth-lowest in job growth since 2006.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 62,900 on average every month in 2009 to a gain of 42,000 on average every month in 2015.
In 2025, California lost an average of 933 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
Job growth among 25 metro areas at least partially in California during January 2026 ranged from a loss of 800 jobs in the Salinas, CA area to a gain of 36,600 jobs in the Los Angeles, CA area metro area.
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
