In an era of economic uncertainty, the U.S. job market remains resilient. After falling to 3.7% in November 2023, the national unemployment rate has been below 4% for 22 consecutive months, the longest streak in over 50 years.
Of course, if history is any guide, much of the economy is subject to boom and bust cycles — and the job market is no exception. Since the mid-1970s, the average annual unemployment rate in the U.S. has fluctuated between 3.6% and nearly 10%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
These same cyclical patterns are also evident in California, where the job market is supported largely by the professional and scientific and retail trade industries. The annual unemployment rate in the state was 4.2% in 2022, closely in line with the state’s lowest recorded annual jobless rate of 4%. However, conditions for job seekers have not always been so favorable.
According to historical BLS data going back to 1976, the annual jobless rate has been as high as 12.2% in California. More than once, unemployment in the state has either matched or come close to that peak.
This is how California’s job market has changed in each of the last 47 years.
1976
Source: JasonDoiy / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 9.1% (7.7% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 62.5% (61.6% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 908,635
1977
Source: Ryan Herron / E+ via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 8.3% (7.1% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 63.8% (62.3% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 868,374
1978
- Avg. unemployment rate: 7.2% (6.1% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 65.1% (63.2% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 778,834
1979
Source: Ron and Patty Thomas / E+ via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 6.2% (5.8% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 65.6% (63.7% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 701,996
1980
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 6.8% (7.1% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 65.6% (63.8% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 798,795
1981
Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 7.4% (7.6% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 65.4% (63.9% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 879,116
1982
Source: Darren415 / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 10.0% (9.7% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 66.0% (64.0% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 1,223,926
1983
Source: Art Wager / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 9.8% (9.6% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 65.7% (64.0% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 1,207,942
1984
Source: Stephen Dunn / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 7.8% (7.5% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 65.8% (64.4% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 977,154
1985
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 7.2% (7.2% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 66.0% (64.8% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 933,949
1986
Source: JasonDoiy / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 6.7% (7.0% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 66.5% (65.3% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 900,489
1987
Source: Ryan Herron / E+ via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 5.8% (6.2% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 66.9% (65.6% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 801,291
1988
- Avg. unemployment rate: 5.3% (5.5% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 67.4% (65.9% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 745,913
1989
Source: Ron and Patty Thomas / E+ via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 5.1% (5.3% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 67.7% (66.5% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 739,894
1990
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 5.8% (5.6% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 67.0% (66.5% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 873,843
1991
Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 7.7% (6.8% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 66.4% (66.2% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 1,180,805
1992
Source: Darren415 / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 9.3% (7.5% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 66.4% (66.4% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 1,432,475
1993
Source: Art Wager / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 9.5% (6.9% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 65.9% (66.3% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 1,453,169
1994
Source: JasonDoiy / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 8.6% (6.1% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 65.8% (66.6% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 1,322,849
1995
Source: Ryan Herron / E+ via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 7.9% (5.6% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 65.6% (66.6% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 1,204,269
1996
- Avg. unemployment rate: 7.3% (5.4% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 65.7% (66.8% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 1,131,644
1997
Source: Ron and Patty Thomas / E+ via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 6.4% (4.9% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 66.3% (67.1% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 1,011,078
1998
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 5.9% (4.5% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 66.6% (67.1% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 960,743
1999
Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 5.2% (4.2% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 66.5% (67.1% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 867,316
2000
Source: Stephen Dunn / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 4.9% (4.0% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 67.0% (67.1% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 825,917
2001
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 5.4% (4.7% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 67.0% (66.8% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 935,919
2002
Source: JasonDoiy / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 6.7% (5.8% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 66.6% (66.6% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 1,165,056
2003
Source: Ryan Herron / E+ via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 6.8% (6.0% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 65.9% (66.2% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 1,190,384
2004
- Avg. unemployment rate: 6.2% (5.5% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 65.6% (66.0% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 1,080,951
2005
Source: Ron and Patty Thomas / E+ via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 5.4% (5.1% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 65.5% (66.0% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 944,309
2006
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 4.9% (4.6% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 65.4% (66.2% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 863,334
2007
Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 5.4% (4.6% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 65.7% (66.0% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 955,326
2008
Source: Darren415 / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 7.3% (5.8% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 65.9% (66.0% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 1,323,825
2009
- Avg. unemployment rate: 11.2% (9.3% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 65.5% (65.4% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 2,112,831
2010
Source: JasonDoiy / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 12.2% (9.6% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 64.4% (64.7% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 2,292,082
2011
Source: Ryan Herron / E+ via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 11.7% (8.9% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 63.6% (64.1% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 2,186,154
2012
- Avg. unemployment rate: 10.4% (8.1% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 63.1% (63.7% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 1,943,842
2013
Source: Ron and Patty Thomas / E+ via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 8.9% (7.4% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 62.7% (63.2% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 1,677,544
2014
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 7.5% (6.2% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 62.3% (62.9% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 1,412,174
2015
Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 6.2% (5.3% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 62.2% (62.7% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 1,176,732
2016
Source: Darren415 / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 5.5% (4.9% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 62.2% (62.8% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 1,046,610
2017
Source: Art Wager / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 4.8% (4.4% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 62.3% (62.9% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 927,302
2018
Source: JasonDoiy / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 4.3% (3.9% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 62.3% (62.9% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 819,595
2019
Source: Ryan Herron / E+ via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 4.0% (3.7% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 62.5% (63.1% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 795,311
2020
- Avg. unemployment rate: 10.1% (8.1% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 60.8% (61.7% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 1,923,991
2021
Source: Ron and Patty Thomas / E+ via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 7.3% (5.3% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 61.0% (61.7% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 1,387,063
2022
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
- Avg. unemployment rate: 4.2% (3.6% nationwide)
- Labor force participation rate: 61.9% (62.2% nationwide)
- Unemployed population in California: 811,079
Source: Courtesy of: 24/7 Wall St.
| Year | California unemployment rate | U.S. unemployment rate | Unemployed population in California |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 9.1 | 7.7 | 908,635 |
| 1977 | 8.3 | 7.1 | 868,374 |
| 1978 | 7.2 | 6.1 | 778,834 |
| 1979 | 6.2 | 5.8 | 701,996 |
| 1980 | 6.8 | 7.1 | 798,795 |
| 1981 | 7.4 | 7.6 | 879,116 |
| 1982 | 10.0 | 9.7 | 1,223,926 |
| 1983 | 9.8 | 9.6 | 1,207,942 |
| 1984 | 7.8 | 7.5 | 977,154 |
| 1985 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 933,949 |
| 1986 | 6.7 | 7.0 | 900,489 |
| 1987 | 5.8 | 6.2 | 801,291 |
| 1988 | 5.3 | 5.5 | 745,913 |
| 1989 | 5.1 | 5.3 | 739,894 |
| 1990 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 873,843 |
| 1991 | 7.7 | 6.8 | 1,180,805 |
| 1992 | 9.3 | 7.5 | 1,432,475 |
| 1993 | 9.5 | 6.9 | 1,453,169 |
| 1994 | 8.6 | 6.1 | 1,322,849 |
| 1995 | 7.9 | 5.6 | 1,204,269 |
| 1996 | 7.3 | 5.4 | 1,131,644 |
| 1997 | 6.4 | 4.9 | 1,011,078 |
| 1998 | 5.9 | 4.5 | 960,743 |
| 1999 | 5.2 | 4.2 | 867,316 |
| 2000 | 4.9 | 4.0 | 825,917 |
| 2001 | 5.4 | 4.7 | 935,919 |
| 2002 | 6.7 | 5.8 | 1,165,056 |
| 2003 | 6.8 | 6.0 | 1,190,384 |
| 2004 | 6.2 | 5.5 | 1,080,951 |
| 2005 | 5.4 | 5.1 | 944,309 |
| 2006 | 4.9 | 4.6 | 863,334 |
| 2007 | 5.4 | 4.6 | 955,326 |
| 2008 | 7.3 | 5.8 | 1,323,825 |
| 2009 | 11.2 | 9.3 | 2,112,831 |
| 2010 | 12.2 | 9.6 | 2,292,082 |
| 2011 | 11.7 | 8.9 | 2,186,154 |
| 2012 | 10.4 | 8.1 | 1,943,842 |
| 2013 | 8.9 | 7.4 | 1,677,544 |
| 2014 | 7.5 | 6.2 | 1,412,174 |
| 2015 | 6.2 | 5.3 | 1,176,732 |
| 2016 | 5.5 | 4.9 | 1,046,610 |
| 2017 | 4.8 | 4.4 | 927,302 |
| 2018 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 819,595 |
| 2019 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 795,311 |
| 2020 | 10.1 | 8.1 | 1,923,991 |
| 2021 | 7.3 | 5.3 | 1,387,063 |
| 2022 | 4.2 | 3.6 | 811,079 |
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