The Center for Jobs and the Economy has released our full analysis of the January Employment Report from the California Employment Development Department. For additional information and data about the California economy visit www.centerforjobs.org/ca.

• Effect of Data Revisions on California Employment

• COVID-19 and the State Economy 

• Comparative Recovery: California at #2 for the Year

• CaliFormer Businesses

• Nonfarm Jobs: 96,700 Gain

• Employment Still 236,600 Below Pre-Covid Level

• Labor Force Participation Rate

• Unemployment Rates by Legislative Districts

• MSAs with the Worst Unemployment Rates

The January nonfarm job numbers for California were the strongest since February 2022, showing a gain of 96,700 compared to Texas at 48,600 and Florida at 30,000.  Looking at the moving 12-month total, California instead falls to second place at 635,000 for the year compared to Texas at 678,000 but still ahead of smaller Florida at 478,000.

Even with the improved recovery date, the California numbers fall behind many other states in real jobs growth rather than recovering the jobs lost during the state shutdowns.  To date, California is only 293,800 jobs above the pre-pandemic peak, compared to Texas at 811,000 and Florida at 582,500.