RANKING · 2024 ACS · 58 SHOWN OF 58

Most unemployed people, California counties

California counties with the most unemployed people in the civilian labor force, as of the 2024 American Community Survey. Ranked by number of people, not the unemployment rate. This list covers the 58 counties in California that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 58 is 6,983. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: Colusa County, CA, up 6 places to #46.

CaliforniaAll states All rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities States Metros

RELATEDLowest unemployment Highest unemployment Highest labor force participation Lowest labor force participation Most white-collar workforce Most self-employed workers

RANKPLACESTATEPOPUNEMPLOYED RESIDENTSVS 2020

01Los Angeles County, CACA9,694,934378,125+12%

02San Diego County, CACA3,282,248103,222−1%

03Orange County, CACA3,149,50791,449+10%

04Riverside County, CACA2,544,91677,449−6%

05San Bernardino County, CACA2,224,09174,403+2%

06Sacramento County, CACA1,618,46054,096+10%

07Santa Clara County, CACA1,914,39151,122+15%

08Alameda County, CACA1,636,63048,866+13%

09Fresno County, CACA1,035,45641,105+4%

10▲1Contra Costa County, CACA1,170,07039,497+21%

11▼1Kern County, CACA927,06834,534−1%

12San Francisco County, CACA826,07930,906+21%

13San Joaquin County, CACA823,81528,735+15%

14▲1Ventura County, CACA830,85124,730+12%

15▼1Stanislaus County, CACA557,71920,915−6%

16Tulare County, CACA485,14620,062−1%

17San Mateo County, CACA743,56819,731+15%

18▲3Sonoma County, CACA486,44414,728+20%

19▼1Solano County, CACA455,37614,251+9%

20▼1Santa Barbara County, CACA442,06514,118+10%

21▼1Merced County, CACA297,26013,562+6%

22Monterey County, CACA433,72910,243+2%

23▲2Placer County, CACA442,0819,891+25%

24▼1Imperial County, CACA181,4118,915−6%

25▼1Santa Cruz County, CACA258,8528,535−4%

26▲2Marin County, CACA253,6948,146+32%

27▲2San Luis Obispo County, CACA282,3677,561+23%

28▼2Butte County, CACA209,2117,515−2%

29▼2Madera County, CACA167,9276,983+11%

30▲1Yolo County, CACA224,4106,815+14%

31▲1Kings County, CACA154,3276,487+31%

32▼2Humboldt County, CACA131,6475,741−5%

33Shasta County, CACA181,6485,199+12%

34El Dorado County, CACA192,3234,167−1%

35Mendocino County, CACA88,1223,743+6%

36▲1Napa County, CACA132,9493,695+10%

37▼1Sutter County, CACA98,7873,295−2%

38Lake County, CACA67,7723,125+11%

39▲3Nevada County, CACA101,9112,533+37%

40▲1Yuba County, CACA88,6912,511+11%

41▼1San Benito County, CACA70,0821,885−22%

42▲1Tuolumne County, CACA53,1601,881+14%

43▼4Tehama County, CACA64,6651,611−34%

44Siskiyou County, CACA42,0131,440+9%

45▲2Glenn County, CACA28,1411,073+51%

46▲6Colusa County, CACA21,8361,032+143%

47▼1Amador County, CACA41,876932+9%

48▼3Calaveras County, CACA46,605877−8%

49▲1Lassen County, CACA28,117872+61%

50▲1Plumas County, CACA18,583703+34%

51▼2Del Norte County, CACA26,410695+11%

52▼4Mariposa County, CACA16,918484−27%

53Trinity County, CACA15,720472+13%

54▲1Modoc County, CACA8,426256−12%

55▲1Mono County, CACA12,505239+18%

56▼2Inyo County, CACA18,158216−35%

57Sierra County, CACA3,098157+60%

58Alpine County, CACA1,04337−18%

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES