California added approximately 131,534 jobs from the first quarter of 2025 to the first quarter of 2026, more than any other state during that period, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom. The state accounted for 16.5 percent of the nation's overall job growth since the beginning of the year.
California is adding jobs more than three times as fast as the nation overall. The state is the single largest contributor to national productivity growth and accounts for roughly 14 percent of total U.S. economic output despite representing just 12 percent of the nation's population.
Average weekly wages in California rose 4.6 percent over the year to $1,954 in the fourth quarter of 2025, outpacing the 4.2 percent national increase. California's statewide minimum wage will increase to $17.40 per hour on January 1, 2027, nearly two-and-a-half times the federal minimum wage.
In the first quarter of 2026, California's economy grew at a 3.7 percent annualized pace, its best quarterly growth ranking since 2013 and one of the fastest growth rates in the nation. The U.S. overall grew 2.1 percent during the same period, compared to Texas at 0.9 percent and Florida at 1.6 percent.
Since Gov. Newsom took office, California's annual gross domestic product has grown by more than $1.18 trillion, reaching $4.25 trillion in 2025. First-quarter 2026 economic output reached an annualized $4.4 trillion, following annual GDP gains exceeding $200 billion in each of the previous two years.
California remains home to more businesses than Texas or Florida and continues to lead as America's startup capital, with more than 4.3 million small businesses employing 7.6 million Californians.