The Nation’s Most Powerful and Diverse Workforce

California’s workforce is the largest, most dynamic, and most diverse in the nation. Home to more than 20 million people, California powers the fifth-largest economy in the world. Companies that choose California, tap into an unparalleled labor pool that spans industries, skill levels, and global perspectives. From entry-level workers, to executive leaders, the state is rich with talent ready to meet business needs at every growth stage.

Innovation, future and global with employee in company for workforce, development and abstract

California’s population reflects the most globally integrated workforce in the U.S. This cultural diversity brings fresh ideas, multilingual capabilities, and a spirit of innovation to the workplace. It’s no surprise that California consistently leads in productivity, patents, and business formation.

World-renowned institutions — including Stanford, Caltech, UC Berkeley, and dozens more — cultivate a deep bench of talent in engineering, biotech, AI, and beyond. Thousands of top-tier graduates enter the workforce every year, and many choose to stay. These future leaders join experienced professionals who relocate to California, seeking the best career opportunities, quality of life, and a culture of advancement.

From Silicon Valley to San Diego, from Central Valley manufacturers to Southern California creative hubs, California offers a deep, adaptable, and forward-thinking workforce. Employers benefit from a labor force built for scale and sustained by talent pipelines aligned with tomorrow’s industries.

Discover the California Advantage. Explore the full depth of California’s talent pool.

California State Data

15,613,163
Workforce
6.00%
Unemployment Rate
1,305,453
Veteran Population
11,132,655
Bachelor's Degree or Higher

Business and Workforce

There are 1,567,423 businesses in California State Data, employing 15,709,917 workers and pulling from a labor force of 18,371,933 age 16 and above. 2,688,162 workers commute into California State Data from outside the county or state. Key industries for the area include:

15,613,163 residents both live and work in/around California State Data. The average travel time is 28.7 minutes. 2% people have a commute of less than 5 minutes while 3.68% commute 90 minutes or more each way. Of commuters, 12,076,803 drive alone, 1,740,292 carpool, and 524,948 take public transportation. 836,801 use other modes of transport such as motorcycle, bicycle, walking, etc. 3,154,824 residents work from home.

5,887,796 members of the workforce hold a high school diploma or GED. 2,384,356 have associates degrees, 6,961,066 have bachelor’s degrees, and 4,171,589 hold a graduate or professional degree.

Source: ESRI, 2026-09-09