What You Need to Know: Although the federal government shutdown ended on November 12, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics required additional time to complete data processing, causing delays for states to release their labor market data. As a result, California will now release its September 2025 unemployment rate and industry employment data on December 12, 2025.
SACRAMENTO — The Employment Development Department (EDD) announced today that California’s September 2025 labor market data will be released on December 12, 2025, following updated direction from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). While an earlier target date of December 5 had been set, BLS subsequently advised states that additional time was needed to complete post-shutdown data collection and validation, resulting in a revised release schedule.
California and other states rely on federally administered surveys and statistical processes to produce official monthly employment (jobs) and unemployment estimates.
“We understand how important timely labor market information is for policymakers, businesses, and communities across California. Following the unprecedented disruptions created by the shutdown, EDD is working closely with our federal partners to resume the development of labor market data and will keep Californians informed as updated schedules become available.”
Status of Upcoming Labor Market Releases
- September 2025 statewide unemployment rate and industry employment (jobs) data will be released December 12, 2025.
- October 2025 state and national unemployment rates will not be available because the federal household survey (used to calculate unemployment rates) was not conducted during the shutdown.
- October 2025 industry job estimates are still pending, based on availability of the federal establishment survey results.
- November 2025 unemployment rate and industry data are also still pending, subject to final BLS guidance and processing timelines for states.
EDD will provide updated publication dates as soon as they are confirmed with federal partners.
Guidance for Federal Workers Returning to Work
EDD continues to support federal workers affected by the shutdown through unemployment benefits and reemployment services.
Federal workers who received unemployment benefits and later receive back pay for the same weeks, are required to repay those benefits. EDD will review each case and mail a Notice of Overpayment with detailed instructions, if applicable.
Federal workers in California are encouraged to follow their employers' guidance and contact EDD to proactively handle the repayment. They’re advised to contact EDD’s dedicated customer service line for federal workers at 1-855-327-7055, between 8 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, to notify the Department and discuss repayment options. Workers may also send a secure message through their myEDD online account. Log in to myEDD, select UI Online, then select Contact.
Federal workers should:
- Stop certifying for benefits if they have returned to full-time work — claims will automatically become inactive.
- Continue certifying if they have returned to part-time work, reporting all hours worked and gross wages (before taxes or other withholdings) each week; they may still qualify for partial unemployment benefits.
How California’s Labor Market Data Are Produced
California’s monthly employment and unemployment estimates are jointly developed by EDD and BLS using two federal surveys as key data inputs:
- Establishment Survey (Current Employment Statistics):
A sample of California businesses provides information used to estimate the total number of nonfarm jobs in the economy. - Household Survey (Current Population Survey):
A sample of Californians provides data to estimate how many people are employed or unemployed and their demographic characteristics.
The shutdown affected these surveys differently. While some establishment survey activities continued, the household survey could not be conducted, which prevents states from producing unemployment rate estimates for October.