EDD Services

The Employment Development Department (EDD) offers a wide variety of services to millions of Californians under Unemployment Insurance (UI), State Disability Insurance (SDI), workforce investment (Jobs and Training), and Labor Market Information programs. As the state's largest tax collection agency, the EDD also handles the audit and collection of payroll taxes and maintains employment records for more than 17 million California workers.

One of the largest state departments, the EDD has employees located at hundreds of service locations throughout California who provide many important services to millions each year, including:

  • Assisting employers with their labor needs.
  • Helping job seekers obtain employment.
  • Administering the federally-funded workforce investment programs for adults, dislocated workers, and youth.
  • Assisting disadvantaged recipients in becoming self-sufficient.
  • Helping unemployed and disabled workers through the administration of the UI and SDI programs.
  • Supporting state activities and benefit programs by collecting and administering employment-related taxes (UI, SDI, Employment Training Tax, and Personal Income Tax withholding).

EDD Branches

Administration Branch

The Administration Branch provides administrative support to the Department including business operations planning and support services, human resource services for EDD employees, and accounting for the Department's annual budget.

Directorate Office

The Director's Office orchestrates the direction of the Department to ensure that programs and services are consistent with the Department's mission and goals. In addition, the Director's Office consists of:

  • Equal Employment Opportunity Office: Investigates and resolves discrimination complaints filed against the Department by employees, employers, and applicants for employment and training, and provides consultant services on all aspects of equal employment opportunity.
  • Legal Office: Provides legal advice and support to the Director and Department management in connection with court cases, administrative hearings, contracts, legislation, and regulation.

Disability Insurance Branch

For 60 years, the EDD had administered the SDI program, which provides partial wage replacement for California workers who are unable to work due to illness, injury, or pregnancy. Each year, the EDD pays out more than $4.2 billion in Disability Insurance (DI) benefits and receives and processes more than 927,000 claims. The DI Branch also administers the Paid Family Leave program and DI Elective Coverage program for self-employed individuals. Employers also have the option of electing an alternative Voluntary Plan.

Information Technology Branch

The Information Technology Branch is responsible for planning policy development, system maintenance, support, operations, and oversight of automated solutions within the Department. The Branch provides data processing technical support and services for one of the largest information technology environments in state government.

Policy, Accountability, and Compliance Branch

This branch provides key audit, investigation, survey, evaluation, and review services to the programs administered by the EDD and partnering agencies. These services help programs operate effectively and efficiently, meet federal and state statutory and regulatory requirements, and protect billions of dollars in financial assets that pass through the EDD annually. Also serves as the EDD’s primary liaison with state and federal elected officials and provides information, analyses, and policy guidance on legislative matters to the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, the Governor’s Office, and other governmental entities.

Public Affairs Branch

The Public Affairs Branch is comprised of Marketing and Constituent Services, Communications, and the Web Content and Usability Group. The Public Affairs Branch provides outreach, marketing, communications, training that supports EDD programs and services, and manages the EDD website and social media pages.

Tax Branch

One of the largest tax collection agencies in the nation, the Tax Branch handles all administrative, education, customer service, and enforcement functions for the audit and collection of UI, DI, Employment Training Tax, and Personal Income Tax (PIT) withholding. Each year, the EDD collects almost $54 billion in payroll taxes, including more than $42 billion in PIT, processes more than 27 million employer payroll tax documents and remittances, and maintains records for more than 16 million workers. The Branch offers a variety of payroll tax seminars and workshops, and provides one-on-one services to employers to help them meet their tax obligations.

Find out more information about EDD’s Payroll Taxes.

Unemployment Insurance Branch

Established more than 60 years ago, the Unemployment Insurance (UI) program provides benefits to individuals who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own, are actively seeking work, are able to work, and are willing to accept employment. Each year, the EDD pays out nearly $6 billion UI benefits and receives and processes more than 2 million new claims. The program is funded by mandated employer contributions. Additional services provided under the UI program include Work Sharing, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, and Trade Adjustment Assistance.

Workforce Services Branch

The Workforce Services Branch (WSB) operates one of the largest public employment services operations in the world offering services at hundreds of service locations statewide and connecting one million job seekers with employers each year.

California receives federal Wagner-Peyser funds for employment services. Job seeker services include job referral, job search workshops, placement services, and special assistance to individuals who are experiencing difficulty in finding work.

Services to employers include matching job openings with qualified candidates and specialized recruitment campaigns. The Workforce Services Branch also offers CalJOBSSM, an online labor exchange system with thousands of job openings and the largest pool of job seekers in California.

The WSB also administers several statewide workforce preparation programs and initiatives that focus on preparing adults and youth for the labor force and building the state's economy. California distributes more than $394 million annually in federal funds to provide training services for adults, dislocated workers, and youth through the America’s Job Center of CaliforniaSM(AJCC), formerly known as One-Stop Career Centers. The AJCC system is a collaboration of local, state, private, and public entities that provide comprehensive and innovative employment services and resources to meet the needs of the California workforce.

Find out more information about EDD’s Jobs and Training.