February 2025 | Released March 28, 2025

Download the full PDF for California

Download the summary PDF for California

United States Employment Snapshot

• In February, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 8, rose in 14, and remained unchanged in 29.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In February, payroll jobs rose in 27 states and fell in 23. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in Wyoming. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Alaska.

California Employment Snapshot

• In February, California lost 7,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.4 percent. In the prior month, California lost 21,400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, California added 78,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 5.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. California is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, California’s private sector lost 11,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 20,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, California lost 23,500 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in California rose by 10,832, and over the past 12 months it rose by 80,972.

• California’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.1 percent in February and ranks 32nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has remained unchanged.

---

California Payroll Employment

• California lost 7,500 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, California lost 21,400 jobs. California nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. California is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• California lost 11,100 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, California lost 23,500 jobs. California private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in February, or 0.1 percent. California is tied for 41st 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 February were Education and Health Services (18,400) and Government (3,600).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Leisure and Hospitality (-6,900) and Professional and Business Services (-7,700).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (159,300) and Government (58,100).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-34,000) and Professional and Business Services (-47,800).

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 February.

• 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 fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.4 percent in February.