December 2024 | Released January 28, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In December, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 7, rose in 25, and remained unchanged in 19.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In December, payroll jobs rose in 43 states and fell in 7. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Vermont.

California Employment Snapshot

• In December, California added 15,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 5.5 percent. In the prior month, California added 9,600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, California added 180,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 5.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. California is tied for 38th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In December, California’s private sector added 12,800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 123,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, California added 10,300 net private payroll jobs.

• In December, employment in California fell by 3,076, and over the past 12 months it fell by 13,743.

• California’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.1 percent in December and ranks 33rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has remained unchanged.

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California Payroll Employment

• California added 15,000 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, California added 9,600 jobs. California nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. California is tied for 38th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• California added 12,800 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, California added 10,300 jobs. California private sector payroll employment has increased in 11 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 223,000 jobs in December, or 0.2 percent. California is tied for 36th 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 December were Leisure and Hospitality (7,500) and Information (4,900).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Manufacturing (-1,300) and Professional and Business Services (-3,000).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (129,400) and Government (56,700).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Construction (-12,400) and Manufacturing (-45,700).

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 December.

• California ranks 33rd 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 remained steady at 62.5 percent in December.