Find a Job You Really Want In
At Zippia, we are dedicated to exploring the best and worst job markets across the nation, including California.
In this updated analysis for 2026, we dive into the cities in California that present the most challenges for job seekers based on current economic indicators and trends.
After evaluating employment data from the state’s largest cities, we identified the ten locations where finding a job is most difficult.
Here are the ten cities in California where job seekers face the greatest hurdles:
Continue reading to discover how we determined these rankings.
For additional insights on California’s job market, check out:
How We Identified the Toughest Job Markets in California
Our analysis focused on California’s 100 largest cities—those with populations exceeding 5,000 residents—using the latest employment data.
Each city was ranked based on various criteria, where a lower score indicated greater challenges for job seekers.
The final rankings reflect the average score across all evaluated categories, with the city earning the lowest score being deemed the “Most Challenging City to Find a Job in California.”
The criteria we considered included:
1. Stockton
Population: 292,262 Recent Job Growth: 0.18%
Future Job Growth: 26.20%
2. Modesto
Population: 201,986 Recent Job Growth: -0.11%
Future Job Growth: 29.20%
3. Salinas
Population: 150,634 Recent Job Growth: 0.19%
Future Job Growth: 27.20%
4. Fresno
Population: 495,777 Recent Job Growth: 0.91%
Future Job Growth: 30.40%
5. Visalia
Population: 123,905 Recent Job Growth: -2.84%
Future Job Growth: 26.00%
6. Santa Maria
Population: 98,715 Recent Job Growth: 0.20%
Future Job Growth: 31.80%
7. San Bernardino
Population: 210,624 Recent Job Growth: 1.17%
Future Job Growth: 31.00%
8. Bakersfield
Population: 347,091 Recent Job Growth: -0.24%
Future Job Growth: 31.60%
9. Oakland
Population: 392,890 Recent Job Growth: 0.69%
Future Job Growth: 32.50%
Conclusion
In summary, Stockton emerges as the city facing the greatest challenges for job seekers in California as we move further into 2026. While the state’s economy shows signs of recovery and growth, certain cities continue to struggle with employment opportunities.
It is essential for job seekers to remain aware of these dynamics as they navigate their career paths in California.
Complete Ranking of Challenging Cities for Job Seekers in California
| City | Rank |
|---|---|
| Stockton | 1 |
| Modesto | 2 |
| Salinas | 3 |
| Fresno | 4 |
| Visalia | 5 |
| Santa Maria | 6 |
| San Bernardino | 7 |
| Bakersfield | 8 |
| Oakland | 9 |
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
