Counties with the highest unemployment rate in California
Rman 348 // Wikimedia Commons
Counties with the highest unemployment rate in California
Unemployment rates, while significantly lower than the alarming pandemic peak of 14.7% experienced in April 2020, remain a subject of concern, notably as economic experts bandy around the idea of a potential recession by 2023. The last economic recession—the Great Recession of 2008-2010—sent rates up to 10% as of October 2009. It was not until the spring of 2019 that unemployment finally went down to the same level it sits at now.
As of October of this year, national unemployment is at 3.7%, 0.2% higher than in September. Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates by state demonstrate a rather sizable spectrum, ranging from just 2.0% in Minnesota, to 4.5% in Illinois and 4.7% in the District of Columbia. Further breakdown by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows yet another county-based spectrum within each state.
To that end, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rate in California using data from the BLS. Counties are ranked by unemployment rate in September 2022.
Craig Howell // Wikimedia Commons
#58. San Mateo County
– Current unemployment rate: 1.9%
— 1 month change: -0.3%
— 1 year change: -1.8%
– Total labor force: 456,969 (8,898 unemployed)
Canva
#57. San Francisco
– Current unemployment rate: 2.1%
— 1 month change: -0.2%
— 1 year change: -2.0%
– Total labor force: 577,441 (12,192 unemployed)
Uladzik Kryhin // Shutterstock
#56. Santa Clara County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.1%
— 1 month change: -0.2%
— 1 year change: -1.7%
– Total labor force: 1,057,241 (22,390 unemployed)
Kglavin // Wikimedia Commons
#55. Marin County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.2%
— 1 month change: -0.2%
— 1 year change: -1.4%
– Total labor force: 130,393 (2,807 unemployed)
Doug Olson // Wikimedia Commons
#54. Placer County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.5%
— 1 month change: -0.3%
— 1 year change: -1.6%
– Total labor force: 193,213 (4,868 unemployed)
Basar // Wikicommons
#53. San Luis Obispo County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.5%
— 1 month change: -0.3%
— 1 year change: -1.7%
– Total labor force: 137,505 (3,384 unemployed)
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#52. Sierra County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.5%
— 1 month change: -0.6%
— 1 year change: -1.9%
– Total labor force: 1,417 (36 unemployed)
Fred Hsu // Wikicommons
#51. Sonoma County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.5%
— 1 month change: -0.3%
— 1 year change: -1.9%
– Total labor force: 250,797 (6,366 unemployed)
Stan Shebs // Wikicommons
#50. Napa County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.6%
— 1 month change: -0.3%
— 1 year change: -1.9%
– Total labor force: 70,669 (1,855 unemployed)
Frank Schulenburg // Wikimedia Commons
#49. Nevada County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.7%
— 1 month change: -0.3%
— 1 year change: -1.9%
– Total labor force: 48,584 (1,317 unemployed)
Hollywood // Wikimedia Commons
#48. Orange County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.7%
— 1 month change: -0.3%
— 1 year change: -2.3%
– Total labor force: 1,603,801 (43,764 unemployed)
Pixabay
#47. Santa Barbara County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.7%
— 1 month change: -0.2%
— 1 year change: -1.8%
– Total labor force: 226,433 (6,053 unemployed)
DimiTalen // Wikimedia Commons
#46. El Dorado County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.8%
— 1 month change: -0.2%
— 1 year change: -2.0%
– Total labor force: 93,036 (2,562 unemployed)
Chuck Abbe // Wikimedia Commons
#45. Inyo County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.8%
— 1 month change: -0.3%
— 1 year change: -1.9%
– Total labor force: 8,393 (236 unemployed)
Jennifer Williams // Wikimedia Commons
#44. Alameda County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.9%
— 1 month change: -0.2%
— 1 year change: -2.2%
– Total labor force: 830,392 (23,864 unemployed)
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#43. Calaveras County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.9%
— 1 month change: -0.3%
— 1 year change: -1.8%
– Total labor force: 22,199 (653 unemployed)
MARELBU // Wikimedia Commons
#42. Contra Costa County
– Current unemployment rate: 3.1%
— 1 month change: -0.3%
— 1 year change: -2.2%
– Total labor force: 554,742 (17,023 unemployed)
Binksternet // Wikimedia Commons
#41. Mendocino County
– Current unemployment rate: 3.1%
— 1 month change: -0.4%
— 1 year change: -1.8%
– Total labor force: 38,198 (1,195 unemployed)
SD Dirk // Flickr
#40. San Diego County
– Current unemployment rate: 3.1%
— 1 month change: -0.3%
— 1 year change: -2.3%
– Total labor force: 1,584,822 (48,605 unemployed)
Epolk // Wikimedia Commons
#39. Yolo County
– Current unemployment rate: 3.1%
— 1 month change: -0.3%
— 1 year change: -1.5%
– Total labor force: 109,010 (3,392 unemployed)
Cory Maylett // Wikimedia Commons
#38. Humboldt County
– Current unemployment rate: 3.2%
— 1 month change: -0.5%
— 1 year change: -1.8%
– Total labor force: 60,833 (1,960 unemployed)
Finetooth // Wikimedia Commons
#37. Lassen County
– Current unemployment rate: 3.2%
— 1 month change: -0.5%
— 1 year change: -1.5%
– Total labor force: 9,227 (297 unemployed)
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#36. Ventura County
– Current unemployment rate: 3.3%
— 1 month change: -0.2%
— 1 year change: -1.9%
– Total labor force: 413,694 (13,498 unemployed)
clr_flickr from Rocklin, USA // Wikimedia Commons
#35. Mono County
– Current unemployment rate: 3.4%
— 1 month change: -0.1%
— 1 year change: -1.9%
– Total labor force: 8,756 (295 unemployed)
Aaronbrick // Wikicommons
#34. Santa Cruz County
– Current unemployment rate: 3.4%
— 1 month change: -0.4%
— 1 year change: -1.7%
– Total labor force: 137,579 (4,722 unemployed)
Almonroth // Wikimedia Commons
#33. Trinity County
– Current unemployment rate: 3.4%
— 1 month change: -0.2%
— 1 year change: -1.4%
– Total labor force: 4,561 (156 unemployed)
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#32. Sacramento County
– Current unemployment rate: 3.5%
— 1 month change: -0.4%
— 1 year change: -2.4%
– Total labor force: 726,207 (25,707 unemployed)
Scott Burley // Wikimedia Commons
#31. Modoc County
– Current unemployment rate: 3.6%
— 1 month change: -0.4%
— 1 year change: -1.4%
– Total labor force: 3,268 (119 unemployed)
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#30. Butte County
– Current unemployment rate: 3.7%
— 1 month change: -0.5%
— 1 year change: -1.8%
– Total labor force: 93,445 (3,492 unemployed)
EPoelzl // Wikimedia Commons
#29. Mariposa County
– Current unemployment rate: 3.7%
— 1 month change: -0.2%
— 1 year change: -1.9%
– Total labor force: 7,473 (274 unemployed)
Bobak Ha’Eri // Wikimedia Commons
#28. Amador County
– Current unemployment rate: 3.8%
— 1 month change: -0.2%
— 1 year change: -2.0%
– Total labor force: 14,530 (551 unemployed)
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#27. San Bernardino County
– Current unemployment rate: 3.8%
— 1 month change: -0.4%
— 1 year change: -2.6%
– Total labor force: 1,020,341 (38,960 unemployed)
Doug Kerr // Wikicommons
#26. Shasta County
– Current unemployment rate: 3.8%
— 1 month change: -0.4%
— 1 year change: -1.8%
– Total labor force: 72,377 (2,783 unemployed)
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#25. Solano County
– Current unemployment rate: 3.8%
— 1 month change: -0.4%
— 1 year change: -2.5%
– Total labor force: 201,406 (7,695 unemployed)
Bobak Ha’Eri // Wikimedia Commons
#24. Tuolumne County
– Current unemployment rate: 3.8%
— 1 month change: -0.4%
— 1 year change: -2.1%
– Total labor force: 19,953 (754 unemployed)
Michael Patrick // Wikimedia Commons
#23. San Benito County
– Current unemployment rate: 3.9%
— 1 month change: -0.4%
— 1 year change: -1.8%
– Total labor force: 33,063 (1,299 unemployed)
Calilover // Wikimedia Commons
#22. Monterey County
– Current unemployment rate: 4.0%
— 1 month change: -0.4%
— 1 year change: -1.5%
– Total labor force: 219,617 (8,884 unemployed)
Daniel Orth // Flickr
#21. Riverside County
– Current unemployment rate: 4.0%
— 1 month change: -0.3%
— 1 year change: -2.4%
– Total labor force: 1,166,597 (46,122 unemployed)
Frank Schulenburg // Wikimedia Commons
#20. Tehama County
– Current unemployment rate: 4.0%
— 1 month change: -0.5%
— 1 year change: -1.8%
– Total labor force: 26,227 (1,059 unemployed)
CFang // Wikimedia Commons
#19. Lake County
– Current unemployment rate: 4.2%
— 1 month change: -0.2%
— 1 year change: -2.1%
– Total labor force: 29,104 (1,232 unemployed)
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#18. Del Norte County
– Current unemployment rate: 4.3%
— 1 month change: -0.4%
— 1 year change: -1.7%
– Total labor force: 9,593 (413 unemployed)
Chmee2 // Wikimedia Commons
#17. Siskiyou County
– Current unemployment rate: 4.3%
— 1 month change: -0.5%
— 1 year change: -1.9%
– Total labor force: 16,755 (728 unemployed)
Kenneth Green // Wikimedia Commons
#16. Plumas County
– Current unemployment rate: 4.4%
— 1 month change: -0.6%
— 1 year change: -2.8%
– Total labor force: 7,826 (347 unemployed)
Trance addict // Wikimedia Commons
#15. Glenn County
– Current unemployment rate: 4.5%
— 1 month change: -0.5%
— 1 year change: -1.1%
– Total labor force: 12,745 (570 unemployed)
BDS2006 // Wikimedia
#14. Los Angeles County
– Current unemployment rate: 4.5%
— 1 month change: -0.4%
— 1 year change: -3.1%
– Total labor force: 4,942,325 (220,867 unemployed)
Public Domain
#13. Stanislaus County
– Current unemployment rate: 4.8%
— 1 month change: -0.4%
— 1 year change: -2.1%
– Total labor force: 241,208 (11,509 unemployed)
LPS.1 // Wikicommons
#12. San Joaquin County
– Current unemployment rate: 4.9%
— 1 month change: -0.3%
— 1 year change: -2.4%
– Total labor force: 338,361 (16,416 unemployed)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District // Wikimedia Commons
#11. Yuba County
– Current unemployment rate: 4.9%
— 1 month change: -0.4%
— 1 year change: -2.1%
– Total labor force: 31,065 (1,521 unemployed)
Susan Popielaski // Wikimedia Commons
#10. Alpine County
– Current unemployment rate: 5.0%
— 1 month change: -0.4%
— 1 year change: -3.7%
– Total labor force: 457 (23 unemployed)
Public Domain
#9. Madera County
– Current unemployment rate: 5.2%
— 1 month change: -0.4%
— 1 year change: -1.9%
– Total labor force: 63,269 (3,264 unemployed)
Ray Bouknight // Wikicommons
#8. Sutter County
– Current unemployment rate: 5.3%
— 1 month change: -0.3%
— 1 year change: -1.6%
– Total labor force: 45,944 (2,432 unemployed)
David Jordan // Wikicommons
#7. Fresno County
– Current unemployment rate: 5.4%
— 1 month change: -0.5%
— 1 year change: -2.2%
– Total labor force: 455,311 (24,764 unemployed)
Armona // Wikicommons
#6. Kings County
– Current unemployment rate: 5.8%
— 1 month change: -0.5%
— 1 year change: -2.0%
– Total labor force: 56,252 (3,241 unemployed)
Mark Miller // Wikimedia Commons
#5. Merced County
– Current unemployment rate: 6.0%
— 1 month change: -0.8%
— 1 year change: -2.0%
– Total labor force: 119,118 (7,193 unemployed)
nickchapman // Wikicommons
#4. Kern County
– Current unemployment rate: 6.2%
— 1 month change: -0.5%
— 1 year change: -2.2%
– Total labor force: 392,678 (24,199 unemployed)
CleanWater17 // Wikimedia Commons
#3. Colusa County
– Current unemployment rate: 7.0%
— 1 month change: -0.5%
— 1 year change: -1.3%
– Total labor force: 11,441 (798 unemployed)
Canva
#2. Tulare County
– Current unemployment rate: 7.5%
— 1 month change: -0.5%
— 1 year change: -1.6%
– Total labor force: 205,963 (15,378 unemployed)
Rman 348 // Wikimedia Commons
#1. Imperial County
– Current unemployment rate: 16.0%
— 1 month change: -0.5%
— 1 year change: -1.6%
– Total labor force: 70,455 (11,285 unemployed)
