January 2025
Released March 17, 2025
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United States Employment Snapshot
In January, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 19, and remained unchanged in 23.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4 percent.
In January, payroll jobs rose in 31 states and fell in 19. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in South Dakota. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Georgia.
California Employment Snapshot
In January, California remained unchanged with 0 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 5.4 percent. In the prior month, California added 39,000 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, California added 22,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 5.1 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. California ranks 47th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In January, California’s private sector lost 1,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 35,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, California added 36,000 net private payroll jobs.
In January, employment in California rose by 17,633, and over the past 12 months it rose by 69,625.
California’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.1 percent in January and ranks 32nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has remained unchanged.
California Payroll Employment
California remained unchanged with 0 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, California added 39,000 jobs. California nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. California ranks 47th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
California lost 1,600 private sector jobs, or 0 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, California added 36,000 jobs. California private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 81,000 jobs in January, or 0.1 percent. California is tied for 47th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during January were Education and Health Services (18,500) and Other Services (1,900).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Information (-3,900) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-14,200).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (148,200) and Government (58,300).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-33,400) and Professional and Business Services (-49,400).
California Labor Force
The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.
The labor force participation rate in California remained unchanged at 62.1 percent in January.
California ranks 32nd in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in California was 63 percent in February 2020, and the 10-year low was 59.6 percent in May 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.6 percent in January.