California Jobless Rate Falls to 5.1% as State Loses 20,500 July Payroll Jobs
Updated
Updated · Redheaded Blackbelt · Aug 21
California Jobless Rate Falls to 5.1% as State Loses 20,500 July Payroll Jobs
3 articles · Updated · Redheaded Blackbelt · Aug 21
Summary
California’s unemployment rate fell to 5.1% in July, the lowest since February 2024, extending a second straight monthly decline and an eighth consecutive drop in the number of unemployed residents.
20,500 nonfarm payroll jobs were lost in July, but a 9,000 upward revision to June left the state with a net gain of 6,100 jobs across the two months.
18,000 fewer Californians were unemployed in July, bringing the eight-month decline to 87,600, while the state has added 70,500 jobs so far in 2026—about 10,070 a month.
Construction added 2,900 jobs and Trade, Transportation and Utilities gained 2,800, while Professional and Business Services shed 15,300 jobs, led by declines in computer systems design, advertising and employment services.
California has accounted for 16.5% of U.S. job growth this year, contributing 70,500 of the nation’s 426,000 added jobs despite July’s payroll setback.