California Job Market Struggles with High Unemployment and Slowing Growth

• California has one of the nation's highest unemployment rates at 5.1%, higher than the national average of 3.7% • Recent layoffs in the tech industry and slow rebound from strikes in entertainment have contributed to job losses • Unemployment is also up in California's agricultural communities with fluctuating labor demands • California's job growth has lagged behind the national average over the past year • The state's labor force has shrunk in recent months, raising concerns about fewer opportunities and people stopping job searches