California August 2026 Unemployment Rate at 5.1% Declines 0.4% Year-Over-Year with Private Education & Health Services Leading the Way - Sierra Sun Times

Important Note : August 2026 employment data is based on the survey week that included August 12. The release date for September 2026 data is scheduled for October 16. September 19, 2026 - SACRAMENTO — California added 39,400 nonfarm payroll jobs 1 in August while the unemployment rate remained at 5.1 percent 2 according to the latest data from the Employment Development Department (EDD). The rate is down 0.4% from August 2025. California had 18,177,200 payroll jobs in August, an increase from both July and August 2025. The State had 138,500 more payroll jobs than a year ago. July’s job total was also revised upward by 4,800 jobs, lowering the estimated job loss in July to 15,700. The August employment data comes from two separate surveys.