States · California

California Economy — Live Data

The California economy — anchored by technology, entertainment, and agriculture — currently shows unemployment at 5.3%, above the national rate of 4.2%. This dashboard tracks the state's labor market, housing, and income data as it updates.

Unemployment Rate
5.3%
▲ Above US average (4.2%)
Nonfarm Jobs
18.17M
▲ +0.6% jobs YoY
House Prices (YoY)
+1.8%
▲ Rising
Per-Capita Income
$91K
▲ +5.5% vs prior year
California vs. United States — Unemployment
California
5.3%
United States
4.2%

California is running above the national unemployment rate. At 5.3% vs 4.2% nationally, local job seekers face a somewhat tougher market than the US average.

Jobs & Output
Nonfarm payrolls
18.17M
Job growth (YoY)
+0.6%
Real GDP (2025)
$3.39T
GDP growth (YoY)
+2.5%

Payrolls are monthly (BLS); GDP and income are annual (BEA). Key sectors in California: technology, entertainment, and agriculture.

What this means if you live or work in California
💼
Job market
With unemployment at or above the national average, hiring in California is more employer-friendly — job seekers should expect more competition per opening.
🏠
Housing
House prices are rising moderately (+1.8% YoY) — a balanced market by recent standards.
💵
Income
Per-capita personal income in California is $91,116, up 5.5% from the prior year. Compare against national inflation to gauge real purchasing power.
🏭
Key industries
California's economy leans on technology, entertainment, and agriculture — sector-specific national trends (energy prices, rates, consumer spending) hit this state through those channels first.
Key Numbers — California
Unemployment5.3%
US unemployment4.2%
Nonfarm jobs18.17M
House prices YoY+1.8%
Per-capita income$91,116
Real GDP$3.39T
Labor data as ofMay 2026
Nearby States
Oregon economy → Nevada economy → Arizona economy → Washington economy → All 50 states →
National Data
US labor market → US housing data → US inflation → Full dashboard →

Data: FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis) — series CAUR, CANA, CASTHPI, CAPCPI, CARGSP — plus BLS and BEA. Live values load on page open; figures shown are the most recent official releases. Not financial advice.