California nonfarm jobs fell 2,900 in the preliminary June estimate, leaving net growth of just 200 since January. The unemployment rate edged down to 5.2% as the labor force declined for a seventh straight month.
In May, total trade through California’s ports remained well above 2025 levels (+12.9%), though the state’s share of US exports kept slipping and is now at risk of falling to 3rd place. Destination imports surged $7.3 billion (19.2%) over the year as retailers pulled holiday shipments forward to get ahead of tariffs.
California again had the highest or near-highest energy prices among the contiguous states in June 2026, even as fuel prices dropped and the state raised its fuel taxes again on July 1.
California gained a preliminary 3,100 nonfarm jobs in May—21st among the states—while unemployment stayed above 1 million for the 29th straight month, AI adoption lagged at 18th nationally, and the state lost its No. 1 Fortune 500 ranking to Texas.
The Center for Jobs and the Economy’s initial analysis of the May 2026 employment and labor force data. Nonfarm jobs rose 3,100 in the preliminary estimate, while the unemployment rate held at 5.3%.
The Center for Jobs and the Economy’s full April 2026 jobs analysis examines California’s continued lead in R&D investment and the risk posed by proposed corporate tax-credit limits, early benchmark data signaling only marginal revisions to 2025 job estimates, sharply disparate regional job performance led by losses in San Francisco and Los Angeles, weak county-level job projections through 2028, and the state’s persistent unemployment insurance fund deficit.
Total trade through California’s ports remained strong in April 2026, with the state’s share of total US goods trade rising for a fourth straight month to 16.92%. California origin exports were up 7.7% from a year earlier and destination imports rose 11.5%.
California continues to have the highest or near-highest energy costs among the contiguous states, with residential natural gas rates at 4th highest and the average residential electricity bill at 19th highest. The May average gasoline price rose to $6.11, with a $1.78 (41.0%) premium over the rest of the US.
The Center for Jobs and the Economy has released our initial analysis of the April labor force and jobs data. California’s April nonfarm jobs declined 3,300, with the state’s unemployment rate at 5.3%, tied for the highest among the states.
In the latest report from California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA), zero emission vehicle (ZEV) registrations posted a market share of 26.1% in 2025, largely unchanged from prior years, before plunging to 15.7% in 2026:Q1—the lowest level since 2021:Q3.
Average energy prices remained the highest among the contiguous states and DC for electricity and fuels, while California also reached an effective end-of-the-line for its policy of relying on increasing fuel imports.
Below are highlights from the recently released trade data from the US Census Bureau and US Bureau of Economic Analysis. To view additional data and analysis related to the California economy, visit our website at www.centerforjobs.org/ca. Total trade through the state’s ports in the first quarter was little changed compared to the same period in […]
The Center for Jobs and the Economy has released our initial analysis of the March employment and labor force data. The EDD and BLS releases are again on different schedules. Data for the other states will be addressed in our Full Jobs Report after it is released by Bureau of Labor Statistics next week. For […]
The Center for Jobs and the Economy has released our full analysis of the July Employment Report from the California Employment Development Department. For additional information and data about the California economy visit www.centerforjobs.org/ca.
The Center for Jobs and the Economy has released our initial analysis of the February employment and labor force data. The EDD and BLS releases are again on different schedules. Data for the other states will be addressed in our Full Jobs Report after it is released by Bureau of Labor Statistics next week. For […]