California’s labor market expanded at a solid pace in October, with total nonfarm employment growing by 96,800 positions, according to an analysis released jointly with the UCR Center for Economic Forecasting and Development. The state’s labor market continues to account for an outsized share of U.S. job growth, at 18.2 percent of overall job gains. California’s unemployment rate, however, is still elevated compared to the nation.

“We’re close to two years since the world was broadsided by the pandemic and California’s unemployment rate remains stubbornly high,” said Taner Osman, research manager at Beacon Economics and the Center for Forecasting. “Unfortunately, there are no quick fixes here and we expect unemployment to stay elevated well into 2022.”