Web Version [link removed] | Update Preferences [link removed] [link removed] QUICK FACTS: California Employment Report for December 2024

The Center for Jobs and the Economy has released our initial analysis of the December Employment Report from the California Employment Development Department. For additional information and data about the California economy visit [[link removed]]. Comparisons across states will be addressed in our full jobs report following release of the data by US Bureau of Labor Statistics on the 28th.

Mixed Results Continue in the December Data

The December preliminary data again showed mixed results from the two core surveys. Nonfarm jobs (seasonally adjusted) rose 15,000 in December, while the November gains were lowered by 1,500 to 9,600.

Employment (seasonally adjusted), in contrast, dipped by 3,100 from November, and by 13,800 for the year. Unemployment rose by 6,000 over the month, marking the 12th month in a row when the number of unemployed in the state was above 1 million.

The US labor force data has been updated with the release of the first slate of the annual revisions through 2020. Additional clarifications on the jobs and employment situations will be released with the annual data revision process for the states, beginning with the January data release scheduled for mid-March.

California Labor Force 5.5% CA Unemployment Rate

California's reported unemployment rate (seasonally

adjusted) rose 0.1 point to 5.5%. The US rate dipped 0.1 point to 4.1%.

-3.1k CA Employment

Employment dipped 3,100 (seasonally adjusted), with the total employment loss since the previous peak in May 2023 at 104,000. US employment rose by 520,000. California unemployment continued rising by 6,000, while US unemployment dropped by 235,000. California unemployment has been above 1 million every month in 2024, the highest levels since the pandemic period in 2021.

Nonfarm Jobs 15.0k Nonfarm Jobs Change

Nonfarm wage and salary jobs rose 15,000 in the preliminary results for December, while the November gains were lowered to 9,600. For the US as a whole, nonfarm jobs rose 256,000.

Unemployment Rates by Region

Looking at employment change over the year, the Central Valley continued to show the strongest gains, with Los Angeles remaining in the plus column. Compared to the pre-pandemic period, the strongest shortfalls remain in Los Angeles and the Bay Area.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) continue to be higher in most regions compared to pre-pandemic February 2020 levels.

Counties with Double-Digit Unemployment 3 Counties with Unemployment Above 10%

The number of counties with an unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) at 10% stayed at 3. The unadjusted rates ranged from 3.3% in San Mateo to 17.8% in Imperial.

Unemployment Rate by Legislative District

The estimated unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) are shown below for the highest and lowest districts. The full data and methodology are available on the Center’s website.

The California Center for Jobs and the Economy provides an objective and definitive source of information pertaining to job creation and economic trends in California. [[link removed]] Contact 1301 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814 916.553.4093 If you no longer wish to receive these emails, select here to unsubscribe. [link removed]