California's economy is the largest in the United States and fourth-largest in the world with a $4.1 trillion GDP as of 2024.

That was 15% slower than 2023’s job creation. Minus the pandemic era’s gyrations, it was the worst year for California employment since the post-Great Recession’s 115,600 decline in 2010.

"California will remain at or near the bottom in terms of job growth in 2025 and 2026." He warned that uncertainties with President Donald Trump's tariff and deportation policies won't help.

California had 17,909,000 jobs in January 2025, declining to 17,881,000 in March 2025. Jobs sharply rebounded in April, rising to 17,898,600.

Still, California is no stranger to the upper levels of unemployment rankings. June 2025 was the 19th time the state ranked ...

Federal job figures show California’s population-gaining counties added 335,000 workers in the five years ending in September 2024, or 6% growth. Conversely, jobs fell by a combined 64,900, or 1 ...

Now, there was some good news in the local employment numbers. The one-month growth of 22,600 jobs was the best of the year. Still, May has had a median 24,200 workers added since 2010.