How many jobs were added in California last month?
Refreshed monthly
California gained 3,100 jobs in May 2026, ranking it 21st 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 25,900 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
+3.1K
month to month change in number of jobs (May 2026)
21st
rank among states in monthly job growth (May 2026)
California’s job gain of 3,100 May 2026 was a directional change from the previous month. The latest monthly job change was up from the 0 loss in April 2026.
During the latest five year period (June 2021 to May 2026), California gained jobs in 41 out of 60 months. May 2026 had the 21st-lowest 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 3,100 more jobs in May 2026 in California than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, June 2021–May 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which California sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in May 2026?
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in May 2026 were health care and social assistance, arts, entertainment, and recreation, and local government. Health care and social assistance added 7,600 jobs, more than the entire economy. Arts, entertainment, and recreation gained 6,000 jobs, while local government added 4,700 jobs. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
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The health care and social assistance sector gained 7,600 jobs during May 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in California (May 2026)
How does California's job growth in 2026 compare to previous years?
In 2025, California gained an average of 4,700 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 8,100, and the lowest since 2024. The 2025 average ranks as 16th-highest in job growth since 2007.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 63,000 on average every month in 2009 to a gain of 42,000 on average every month in 2015.
In 2025, California gained an average of 4,700 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
Job growth among 25 metro areas primarily in California during May 2026 ranged from a loss of 3,200 jobs in the Riverside, CA area to a gain of 2,400 jobs in the San Jose, CA area metro area.
Monthly job growth, by metro area
Metro areas where at least one of its primary counties are within California
| Metro area | Change in jobs | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | +2,400 | |
| 2. | +1,600 | |
| 3. | +1,500 | |
| 4. | +1,200 | |
| 5. | +900 | |
| 6. | +300 | |
| 7. | +300 | |
| 8. | +200 | |
| 9. | +200 | |
| 10. | +100 |
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
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.
