California Hits Record 18.2M Jobs as Layoffs Fall 8% in 2026

NewsData.io · United States · Sep 28, 2026

California's job market has reached a record high of 18.2 million employed workers as of August 2026, with announced layoffs running 8% below 2025 levels and unemployment claims down 7% year-over-year. Employment growth outpaced the rest of the nation for nine consecutive months, though wage growth of 2.7% trailed the national average of 3.9% and barely kept pace with inflation. Recruiters in California may find a tighter candidate pool as discouraged workers edge up and job seekers face longer searches, while the Bay Area's AI-driven hiring boom continues to concentrate demand in tech-adjacent roles.