June 2026 | Released July 21, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In June, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 30, rose in 7, and remained unchanged in 14.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent.

• In June, payroll jobs rose in 34 states and fell in 17. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in Alaska and New Hampshire. The largest payroll job percent decline was 1.2 percent in West Virginia.

California

Employment snapshot

• In June, California lost 2,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 5.2 percent. In the prior month, California lost 15,600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, California added 106,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points from 5.5 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. California is tied for 16th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In June, California’s private sector added 4,700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 139,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, California lost 13,900 net private payroll jobs.

• In June, employment in California fell by 34,808, and over the past 12 months it fell by 132,474.

• California’s labor force participation rate fell to 61.8 percent in June from 62 percent and is tied for 29th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.6 percentage points.

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California

Payroll employment

• California lost 2,900 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, California lost 15,600 jobs. California nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. California is tied for 16th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• California added 4,700 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, California lost 13,900 jobs. California private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 49,000 jobs in June, or 0 percent. California is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From May 2026 to June 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+15,500) and Leisure and Hospitality (+1,100).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-8,100) and Construction (-4,100).

From June 2025 to June 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+154,700) and Leisure and Hospitality (+36,800).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-21,700) and Information (-16,900).

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 fell to 61.8 percent in June from 62 percent in the prior month.

• California is tied for 29th 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 fell by 0.3 percentage points to 61.5 percent in June.