California Unemployment

According to the BLS current population survey (CPS), the unemployment rate for California fell 0.1 percentage points in February 2018 to 4.3%. The state unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points higher than the national rate for the month. The unemployment rate in California peaked in March 2010 at 12.3% and is now 8.0 percentage points lower. You can also see California unemployment compared to other states.

Unemployment Rate	February 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	4.1%	0.0	-0.6
California	4.3%	-0.1	-0.8

Note: All comparisons are made with February data as March state level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: California, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray

California Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in California peaked in October 2010 at 2,253,816. There are now 1,410,378 fewer people unemployed in the state. California job growth data is also available.

Unemployed Persons	February 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
California	843,438	-8,891	-142,560

Number of Unemployed Persons

California Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	California Unemployment Rate	California Unemployed
March 2018	4.1%	—	—
February 2018	4.1%	4.3%	843,438
January 2018	4.1%	4.4%	852,329
December 2017	4.1%	4.5%	866,372
November 2017	4.1%	4.5%	864,790
October 2017	4.1%	4.5%	866,585
September 2017	4.2%	4.5%	879,226
August 2017	4.4%	4.6%	895,107
July 2017	4.3%	4.7%	911,141
June 2017	4.3%	4.8%	925,848
May 2017	4.3%	4.9%	939,586
April 2017	4.4%	5.0%	954,038