California Adds 131,534 Jobs While Nation Slows

While job growth slowed across America in early 2026, California kept hiring at full speed, adding more jobs than any other state in the nation.

The Golden State created 131,534 new positions over the 12 months ending in the first quarter of 2026, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. That's more than any other state during a period when nationwide job creation nearly stalled.

California's growth didn't stop there. The state added 97,200 jobs in just the first four months of 2026, averaging 24,300 new positions each month through April.

From April 2025 to April 2026, California recorded a 0.56 percent job gain with 101,500 new nonfarm positions. That number beat the national growth rate during the same period.

The jobs are coming from industries shaping tomorrow's economy. Clean energy companies, advanced manufacturing facilities, healthcare systems, and logistics operations are all expanding across the state.

"California isn't just keeping pace with the national economy. We're driving it," said Governor Gavin Newsom.

The state isn't leaving workers behind in the shift. Through the California Jobs First initiative launched in 2025, the state trained more than 142,000 workers and helped create over 61,000 new jobs in strategic sectors.

This first-of-its-kind program continues advancing high-impact projects across California's 13 economic regions. It connects workers with skills training while spurring business development in communities statewide.

The Ripple Effect

California's job creation success is building on decades of economic momentum. Since 2016, the state has added approximately 1.8 million jobs, accounting for roughly 12 percent of all U.S. job growth during that decade.

The state's economy reached $4.3 trillion in 2025, representing 14 percent of the entire U.S. economy, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. Over the past 25 years, California's economy has grown by 90 percent compared to 69 percent national growth.

Perhaps most impressive: California generated 40 percent of U.S. stock market growth while making up less than 12 percent of the nation's population. The state also captured two-thirds of all U.S. venture capital investment.

"California's workforce is one of the state's greatest strengths and a key reason our economy continues to grow and adapt," said Labor Secretary Stewart Knox.

When California's economy thrives, America benefits. The state's workers are building the technologies, treating the patients, and manufacturing the products that power the national economy forward.