Business
California Job Growth Keeps on Rolling

State Has Added 250,000 Jobs in 2023 Alone… But Labor Force Struggles to Continue; State Unemployment Rate Remains Elevated Compared To Nation
California’s labor market continued to expand in May, with total nonfarm employment in the state growing by 47,300 positions, according to an analysis released today by Beacon Economics. April’s gains were also revised up to 69,900 in the latest numbers, a 2,900 increase from the preliminary estimate of 67,000.
As of May 2023, there are now 415,600 more people employed in California compared to February 2020, the pre-pandemic peak of payroll employment. Total nonfarm employment in the state has grown 2.4% during this time compared to a 2.5% increase in the nation as a whole. From May 2022 to May 2023, California also increased payrolls by 2.4%, trailing the 2.7% increase nationally over the same period.
“Although the writers’ strike and recent tech industry layoffs have captured headlines, overall, California employers have continued to expand payrolls,” said Taner Osman, Research Manager at Beacon Economics. “In the first five months of this year, the state’s economy has added more than 250,000 jobs, and during a time when many forecasted that we’d be in recession. Moreover, we haven’t yet moved into a seasonally strong period of the year.”
California’s unemployment rate remained at 4.5% in May, unchanged from the previous month. The state’s unemployment rate remains elevated relative to the 3.7% rate in the United States overall. California is continuing to struggle with its labor supply, which grew by 24,700 in May, an increase of 0.1% on a month-over-month basis. Since February 2020, the state’s labor force has contracted by 171,200 workers, a 0.9% decline.
Industry Profile
- At the industry level, job gains were broad-based in the latest numbers. Health Care led the way with payrolls expanding by 15,300, an increase of 0.6% on a month-over-month basis. The Health Care sector accounted for nearly one in three of the net jobs added in the state in May. Health Care payrolls are now up 5.4% on a year-over-year basis.
- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services was the next best performing sector, adding 11,600 jobs, a month-over-month increase of 0.8%. Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services payrolls are now up 3.3% on a year-over-year basis.
- Other sectors posting strong gains during the month were Leisure and Hospitality (9,800 or 0.5%), Construction (6,500 or 0.7%), Other Services (5,700 or 1.0%), Retail Trade (5,200 or 0.3%), Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities (2,400 or 0.3%), Government (2,200 or 0.1%), Education (1,100 or 0.3%), and Finance and Insurance (1,000 or 0.2%).
- Payrolls decreased in only a handful of sectors in May. Wholesale Trade saw the largest declines, with payrolls falling by 5,800, a drop of 0.9% on a month-over-month basis. The only other sectors with significant job losses during the month were Manufacturing (-5,700 or -0.4%) and Information (-2,800 or 0.5%).
Regional Profile
- Regionally, job gains were led by Southern California. Los Angeles (MD) saw the largest increase, where payrolls grew by 8,400 (0.2%) during the month. The Inland Empire 7,700 or 0.3%), Orange County (3,500 or 0.2%), San Diego (3,300 or 0.2%), and Ventura (1,600 or 0.5%) also saw their payrolls expand during the month. Over the past year, San Diego (2.9%), Orange County (2.9%), and El Centro (2.9%) saw the fastest job growth in the region, followed by Los Angeles (MD) (2.5%), Ventura (2.2%), and the Inland Empire (1.1%).
- In the San Francisco Bay Area, the East Bay experienced the largest increase, with payrolls expanding by 4,700 (0.4%) positions in May. San Francisco (MD) (3,600 or 0.3%), San Jose (1,400 or 0.1%), San Rafael (MD) (500 or 0.4%), Vallejo (400 or 0.3%), and Napa (200 or 0.3%) also saw payrolls expand during the month. Over the past 12 months, Napa (2.9%) and San Francisco (MD) (2.9%) have enjoyed the fastest job growth in the region, followed by San Jose (2.8%), Vallejo (2.4%), the East Bay (2.3%), Santa Rosa (2.2%), and San Rafael (MD) (1.5%).
- In the Central Valley, Sacramento experienced the largest monthly increase, where payrolls expanded by 6,800 (0.6%) positions in May. Payrolls in Bakersfield (1,200 or 0.4%), Fresno (1,100 or 0.3%), Modesto (800 or 0.4%), Visalia (400 or 0.3%), and Hanford (400 or 0.9%) also saw their payrolls jump during the month. Over the past year, Hanford (6.4%) has enjoyed the fastest growth, followed by Madera (4.0%), Fresno (3.3%), Visalia (3.1%), Yuba (3.0%), Sacramento (2.8%), Modesto (2.7%), Redding (2.5%), Stockton (2.3%), and Bakersfield (2.3%).
- On California’s Central Coast, Santa Barbara (1,000 or 0.5%) added the largest number of jobs. Salinas (700 or 0.5%), San Luis Obispo (400 or 0.3%), and Santa Cruz (200 or 0.2%) also saw payrolls increase during the month. From May 2022 to May 2023, Salinas (4.0%) has added jobs at the fastest rate, followed by San Luis Obispo (3.2%), Santa Cruz (3.1%), and Santa Barbara (3.0%).
Business
Fire Helmet Manufacturer Helps Disabled Community find Employment

Riverside’s Phenix Technology Leads with Inclusion, Empowering the Disabled Community Through Workforce Training and Employer Education
Written by Logan Rosselli, IEBJ Content Contributor
In the heart of Riverside, off of Chicago Avenue, a small, but mighty team has been quietly manufacturing life-saving equipment for firefighters across the world for over 50 years. Phenix Technology Inc. is an internationally recognized fire helmet manufacturer who builds their products from start to finish right here in the Inland Empire. For their great products, they’ve received numerous awards such as the Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Innovator of the Year, a 2016 “E” for Exports award from the U.S. Department of Commerce, a finalist position in the “Coolest Thing Made in California” competition and more. However, their most recent accolade doesn’t involve their products at all.
In 2024, Phenix founded the ground breaking “Opportunity for All” program to provide disabled community members with the opportunity to access career education, hands-on experience and employment opportunities through an 11 week training cohort. In this program, neurodivergent individuals wanting to find stable employment learn about standard hiring practices, writing a resume, effective interviewing and professional attire while getting on-the-job training with a partnered employer in the community. It has helped dozens of disabled community members to find a new sense of independence and achieve their full potential while helping local employers find dependable employees who bring a unique perspective to the workplace.
It’s for this program that the National Association of Workforce Development Boards (NAWB), a representative of over 570 workforce development boards across the United States, honored Phenix with the prestigious W.O. Lawton Business Leadership Award in late March.
“While we take tremendous pride in the products we make, we also believe we have a mission to create a better world through developing opportunities,” said Angel Sanchez, CEO of Phenix Technology in a statement released in early April. “Opportunity for All has helped prove that individuals who have historically been excluded from the workforce don’t just contribute — they elevate organizations. We are honored to receive this national award and grateful to the partners who have helped us make this vision a reality.”
CEO Angel Sanchez Jr. accepts the NAWB Award
Though “Opportunity for All” is certainly the cornerstone program for the company, Phenix’s leadership team was not satisfied to leave their mission there. Thus, in 2024, the company founded its nonprofit arm, Phenix Gateway to offer more programs and advocacy to the community. Through Phenix Gateway, the company offers workforce development workshops for individuals who don’t need the full scale of the “Opportunity for All” program, but want to improve a specific skill like resume writing or workplace social skills.
However, Phenix knows that preparing disabled people for the workforce is only one end of the equation; the workforce also has to be prepared to accept the unique skills, perspectives and challenges of the disabled community. For this reason, Phenix Gateway offers employer training workshops as well as educational materials available to businesses and the community. Training programs cover a lot of ground, ranging from assistance with optimizing interviews for people with neurodevelopmental disorders to creating sensory-friendly environments in the workplace.
In Riverside, these programs have had a huge impact on the local community. As of March 2025, Phenix’s Opportunity for All program has had over two dozen participants and 44% found stable employment through or after the program. Their one-off workforce development workshops have seen over 200 participants learn new skills and help them find employment and the nonprofit currently partners with close to 90 businesses to assist them in their endeavor to create a more inclusive workforce.
Phenix Gateway staff helps a program participant with his skills
For businesses or community members interested in learning how they can support or participate in these programs, Phenix encourages them to reach out by email to info@phenixgateway.org and to attend their First Annual Gala: Rising Together, A Phenix Gateway Celebration, on Thursday, May 15th. Tickets for this event are available at phenixgateway.org.
Business
Supported by Local Leaders, CALED’s Annual Conference will be in Ontario this May

Empowering Economic Growth: CALED Conference Set to Unite Industry Leaders in Ontario
CALED’s ‘Growing Local Economies from the Ground Up’ Conference is being held in Ontario at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Ontario Airport on May 7-9. This event is co-hosted by the City of Ontario and San Bernardino County, with Jennifer McLain Hiramoto, CALED’s Chair of the Board and Derek Armstrong respectively representing their city and county as Co-Chairs of the event.
With over 950 members and 45 years of empowering economic developers, CALED is the largest economic development association in the country and the annual conference is the number one place to meet and connect with the boots-on-the -ground, decision makers in our communities.
The conference will include a pre-conference teaching tour, ‘Building & Paying for Development Projects’ on May 6th and then begin in full on May 7th, with a welcome session and breakouts. Overall, there will be four general assembly sessions and 18 breakout sessions, which will delve into local economic development practices and innovative tools.
In addition to compelling content, the conference will have numerous opportunities to connect with community leaders and valued peers through networking receptions, the culinary crawl, and new this year, the Tournament of Champions, where conference attendees will navigate a gauntlet of games to win the grand prize on the evening of Thursday, May 8th.
To learn more about the conference and register, visit the CALED website at www.caled.org.
Business
Strengthening Community Connections: Our Exciting New Partnership with Toyota Arena, Ontario Convention Center, and GOCAL

Contributed Content | By Chris Venhoff, Senior Vice President and Inland Empire Market Leader for Consumer and Business Banking at U.S. Bank
As the Inland Empire market leader for U.S. Bank, I’m thrilled to share some exciting news: we are proud to be the Official Bank Partner of Toyota Arena and Ontario Convention Center. This partnership represents a reflection of our deep commitment to the Inland Empire and our dedication to fostering a vibrant, thriving community.
At U.S. Bank, we believe that strong partnerships drive meaningful progress. Toyota Arena and Ontario Convention Center are at the heart of the region’s culture and economy, bringing people together for world-class entertainment, business conventions, and community events. By joining forces, we’re not only expanding our presence but also creating opportunities to engage with residents, businesses, and organizations in ways that make a lasting impact.
Through our sponsorship, we’ll support concerts, sporting events, and conventions that showcase the diversity and energy of the Inland Empire. But this is only the beginning. As our partnership evolves, we’ll work closely with Toyota Arena, Ontario Convention Center, and GOCAL to introduce community-focused programs, including financial literacy workshops and charitable giving initiatives.
This partnership is designed to bring added value to the people we serve. For our customers, we’re introducing the U.S. Bank Fast Pass Lanes, providing priority access at Toyota Arena events. Special offers, exclusive event experiences, and tailored financial solutions for businesses operating in the region are just a few of the many perks we’re excited to roll out.
Our employees are at the core of our success, and this partnership allows us to recognize their dedication. Through exclusive access to events, corporate hospitality opportunities, and community volunteer programs, our team will have new ways to engage with and celebrate the community they serve.
The Inland Empire is a dynamic, fast-growing region, and we’re committed to supporting its continued success. By investing in Toyota Arena and Ontario Convention Center, we’re helping to create and sustain jobs while driving local business growth. These venues bring in visitors, revenue, and visibility, strengthening the region’s economy.
This collaboration is about more than just sponsorship—it’s about making a difference. By working together, we can elevate not just these venues but the entire Inland Empire. At U.S. Bank, we’re committed to being a partner in progress, supporting our customers, businesses, and communities every step of the way.
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