What is the unemployment rate in right now?

Updated May. 22, 2026Refreshed monthly
Unemployment in California was at 5.3% in April 2026. That's unchanged from the month before. The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who are actively looking for work but not currently employed. It's a common way to measure the health of the job market and economy.
In April 2026,

5.3%

of the labor force was unemployed in California
April 2026 had a

+0

percentage point change from the previous month
The Bureau of Labor Statistics calculates the unemployment rate through a monthly survey to identify the civilian labor force, meaning people who are employed or actively seeking work. It counts part-time workers as employed. It excludes people who aren’t actively looking for work, such as retirees or discouraged workers.

In April 2026, the unemployment rate in California was higher than the US overall.

Seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, January 2007 to April 2026

Unemployment rates differ within states due to various factors. Counties with many job opportunities and different industries often have lower unemployment rates. In rural areas or in places where industries are shrinking, the rate can be higher. Seasonal work in industries like tourism or farming can lead to unemployment rising or falling. Population changes and local policies also play a role in how many people are employed.

What counties in California have the highest and lowest unemployment?

In California, Colusa County, CA had the highest unemployment rate at 17.0%. San Mateo County, CA had the lowest at 3.5%. Los Angeles County, CA, the county with the largest labor force in the state, had an unemployment rate of 5.1%. The latest county-level data is from March 2026

Unemployment rates in California counties ranged from 3.5% to 17% in March 2026.

Unemployment rate, by county, not seasonally adjusted

Unemployment rate, by county in California (March 2026)

Unemployment rate, by county in California (March 2026)
1.

Colusa County, CA

17%
2.

Imperial County, CA

16.9%
3.

Tulare County, CA

11.5%
4.

Merced County, CA

10.6%
5.

Plumas County, CA

10.3%
6.

Monterey County, CA

10%
7.

Kings County, CA

9.9%
8.

Sutter County, CA

9.7%
9.

Kern County, CA

9.5%
10.

Fresno County, CA

9%

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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.