Canva
1 / 26#26. Redding
- June employment: 69,600
--- 1-month change: Down 800 jobs (-1.14%)
--- 1-year change: Up 700 jobs (+1.02%)
Metros in California where jobs are growing fastest
The job market has undergone significant transformations since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted labor markets across the world. Remote work, a term almost unheard of before the pandemic, continues to be a priority for many employees. The pandemic also ushered in an era of acceptance of virtual meetings. And as traditional methods of doing your job wane, savvy employers are making changes to make the workplace more conducive to this new reality.
Fluid and dynamic, the job market is subject to constant fluctuations influenced by various internal and external factors. COVID-19 was the perfect confluence of most, if not all, of these drivers. Consumer preferences, economic cycles, industry trends, and technological advancements all combine to dictate the increase or decrease in employment opportunities.
For policymakers and businesses, the ability to monitor these changes becomes paramount in understanding the intricacies of labor markets and making changes to their approach accordingly. As for the public, it's useful to know whether the place you live—or are thinking of living—has a good chance of having a job with your name on it.
Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the metros in California where jobs are growing the fastest. Metros are ranked by the percent change in jobs from May to June. Metros where jobs shrank were also included in the rankings, but metros without all data points available were excluded. If metros are located in multiple states, they were included only in the rankings for their primary state.
You may also like: The 20 most competitive housing markets in California
Canva
2 / 26#25. Hanford
- June employment: 43,000
--- 1-month change: Down 300 jobs (-0.69%)
--- 1-year change: Up 1,700 jobs (+4.12%)
Canva
3 / 26#24. Santa Cruz
- June employment: 102,200
--- 1-month change: Down 500 jobs (-0.49%)
--- 1-year change: Up 2,800 jobs (+2.82%)
Jon Bilous. // Shutterstock
4 / 26#23. Oxnard
- June employment: 317,100
--- 1-month change: Down 1,400 jobs (-0.44%)
--- 1-year change: Up 5,300 jobs (+1.7%)
Canva
5 / 26#22. Napa
- June employment: 74,400
--- 1-month change: Down 200 jobs (-0.27%)
--- 1-year change: Up 2,000 jobs (+2.76%)
You may also like: How to Start an LLC in California: 2025 Guide
Canva
6 / 26#21. San Luis Obispo
- June employment: 122,400
--- 1-month change: Down 200 jobs (-0.16%)
--- 1-year change: Up 4,400 jobs (+3.73%)
Canva
7 / 26#20. Modesto
- June employment: 189,700
--- 1-month change: Down 300 jobs (-0.16%)
--- 1-year change: Up 3,400 jobs (+1.83%)
Strike First // Shutterstock
8 / 26#19. Los Angeles
- June employment: 6,347,800
--- 1-month change: Down 2,600 jobs (-0.04%)
--- 1-year change: Up 136,200 jobs (+2.19%)
keithmholland // Shutterstock
9 / 26#18. Chico
- June employment: 78,100
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1,300 jobs (+1.69%)
Canva
10 / 26#17. Riverside
- June employment: 1,676,100
--- 1-month change: Up 600 jobs (+0.04%)
--- 1-year change: Up 14,100 jobs (+0.85%)
You may also like: Coldest Novembers in California since 1895
Canva
11 / 26#16. Visalia
- June employment: 141,900
--- 1-month change: Up 100 jobs (+0.07%)
--- 1-year change: Up 3,900 jobs (+2.83%)
Canva
12 / 26#15. Fresno
- June employment: 389,900
--- 1-month change: Up 300 jobs (+0.08%)
--- 1-year change: Up 12,000 jobs (+3.18%)
Canva
13 / 26#14. Santa Maria
- June employment: 200,400
--- 1-month change: Up 200 jobs (+0.1%)
--- 1-year change: Up 6,100 jobs (+3.14%)
Canva
14 / 26#13. Sacramento
- June employment: 1,093,100
--- 1-month change: Up 1,100 jobs (+0.1%)
--- 1-year change: Up 29,200 jobs (+2.74%)
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock
15 / 26#12. Bakersfield
- June employment: 293,000
--- 1-month change: Up 300 jobs (+0.1%)
--- 1-year change: Up 5,900 jobs (+2.06%)
You may also like: Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in California
Canva
16 / 26#11. Stockton
- June employment: 277,300
--- 1-month change: Up 300 jobs (+0.11%)
--- 1-year change: Up 4,400 jobs (+1.61%)
California Droning // Shutterstock
17 / 26#10. Vallejo
- June employment: 142,600
--- 1-month change: Up 200 jobs (+0.14%)
--- 1-year change: Up 2,900 jobs (+2.08%)
trekandshoot // Shutterstock
18 / 26#9. Santa Rosa
- June employment: 209,000
--- 1-month change: Up 300 jobs (+0.14%)
--- 1-year change: Up 4,100 jobs (+2.0%)
Pete Niesen // Shutterstock
19 / 26#8. San Francisco
- June employment: 2,531,800
--- 1-month change: Up 3,700 jobs (+0.15%)
--- 1-year change: Up 61,100 jobs (+2.47%)
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock
20 / 26#7. El Centro
- June employment: 57,400
--- 1-month change: Up 100 jobs (+0.17%)
--- 1-year change: Up 1,200 jobs (+2.14%)
You may also like: Hottest Januarys in California since 1895
Matt Gush // Shutterstock
21 / 26#6. Yuba City
- June employment: 51,700
--- 1-month change: Up 100 jobs (+0.19%)
--- 1-year change: Up 1,300 jobs (+2.58%)
Canva
22 / 26#5. Salinas
- June employment: 149,100
--- 1-month change: Up 500 jobs (+0.34%)
--- 1-year change: Up 5,700 jobs (+3.97%)
Dancestrokes // Shutterstock
23 / 26#4. San Diego
- June employment: 1,580,500
--- 1-month change: Up 5,700 jobs (+0.36%)
--- 1-year change: Up 47,400 jobs (+3.09%)
Uladzik Kryhin // Shutterstock
24 / 26#3. San Jose
- June employment: 1,189,400
--- 1-month change: Up 4,700 jobs (+0.4%)
--- 1-year change: Up 33,800 jobs (+2.92%)
Matt Gush // Shutterstock
25 / 26#2. Madera
- June employment: 43,100
--- 1-month change: Up 200 jobs (+0.47%)
--- 1-year change: Up 1,200 jobs (+2.86%)
You may also like: Best private colleges in California
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock
26 / 26#1. Merced
- June employment: 72,800
--- 1-month change: Up 900 jobs (+1.25%)
--- 1-year change: Up 800 jobs (+1.11%)
