Is California's job growth 80% less than we think?

"Before we get into the debate, here are the highlights: California bosses added only 18,000 workers in the year ending in March, according to new job counts instead of the 88,000 previously reported. That's a 70,000 gap, or 80% fewer jobs. California's slim growth helps explain 2025's sluggish economic activity - from weak consumer confidence to tepid home and auto sales to fast-food discounting and growing government deficits. The new administration's unorthodox business policies may also be part of the economic malaise."

"The BLS math was thrust into the spotlight this summer when President Donald Trump fired the bureau's boss in August after a huge downward revision to monthly national employment numbers. Next, the bureau announced that its first of two annual revisions of employment data showed U.S. job counts were 911,000 too high compared with previous tallies. Government job counters refine their monthly employment counts, derived from surveys of bosses, through a two-step process."

New employment statistics show California added only 18,000 workers in the year ending March, far below the previously reported 88,000, a 70,000 gap. The slim growth helps explain 2025's sluggish economic activity, including weak consumer confidence, tepid home and auto sales, fast-food discounting and growing government deficits. The Bureau of Labor Statistics made large national downward revisions and reported U.S. job counts were 911,000 too high compared with earlier tallies. The BLS refines monthly survey-based counts and conducts annual record-based revisions from unemployment insurance filings; those record-based counts are slower but considered more accurate. State and local job data will be officially updated in early 2026.

Read at The Mercury News