The unemployment rate in California rose to 4.9% in November 2023, a slight increase of 0.1 percentage point from the previous month, as per data provided by the Employment Development Department (EDD). At the same time, California employers added 9,300 nonfarm payroll jobs. The total nonfarm payroll jobs in the state reached 18,158,500 in November 2023, reflecting a monthly rise of 9,300 and a yearly gain of 268,600 from November 2022.

Since the beginning of the current economic expansion in April 2020, the state has secured 3,240,500 jobs, with an average monthly gain of 75,360. California holds an additional 485,900 jobs (or 2.7%) more than its pre-pandemic total. The state also observed 11 consecutive months of job growth in 2023, with a gain of 9,300 nonfarm jobs in November.

Among the state’s 11 industry sectors, six saw job gains in November. Private Education & Health Services led with the highest increase of 10,500 jobs. The Leisure & Hospitality sector also demonstrated significant growth with the addition of 7,900 jobs, exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 25,800 (or 1.3%). Noteworthy gains were also observed in the Information sector (+1,900), partially attributed to the conclusion of a strike by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. On the downside, the Professional & Business Services industry witnessed a dip in jobs, losing 11,100 primarily due to higher than average losses across diverse industry groups.

Unemployment rates also varied locally, with Calaveras recording a lower rate of 4.2%, while Tuolumne experienced a slightly higher rate of 5.0%.