News and Announcements

What you need to know: California’s Life Sciences industry employs 466,888 workers and generates over $414 billion in annual economic output – about 20% of that in the LA Basin alone. With more bioscience and biotechnology patents issued to California companies than any other state, California makes strategic investments to develop the future’s workforce.

California gained 15,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in December 2024 and the unemployment rate rose slightly to 5.5 percent, according to the latest Employment Development Department (EDD) data coming from two separate surveys. December’s job gain follows a downward-revised job gain of 9,600 for November.

What You Need to Know: California is committed to supporting workers in their communities impacted by the devastating Southern California wildfires and windstorms. In partnership with local resources, the Employment Development Department is helping to deliver temporary jobs for humanitarian assistance and cleanup efforts while strengthening services to return affected workers to long-term, meaningful jobs as soon as possible.

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What You Need to Know: In response to the wildfires and windstorms, federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is now available for workers and self-employed people who do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits. DUA benefit claims must be filed by March 10, 2025.

What You Need to Know: California supports the communities impacted by the Palisades Fire and the windstorm conditions resulting in multiple fires devastating Southern California.

What you need to know: California is investing in the education necessary for farmworkers to enter job training programs and transition to existing and high-paying jobs in agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, and information technology fields. Partnering with community-based resources, the Employment Development Department is committed to helping these essential workers improve the quality of their jobs and wages.

What you need to know: California boosted Paid Family Leave and Disability Insurance benefits up to 90 percent of regular pay for many workers—a landmark increase that will make it much easier for Californians to take time off for an illness or injury, or to care for loved ones.

SACRAMENTO—In another major step toward prosecuting those who defrauded California’s unemployment benefit program last year, the Employment Development Department (EDD) and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) Fraud Task Force today announced that former United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott will assist state investigators to ramp up statewide efforts to hold those who committed crimes accountable.