California jobless claims and continuing claims spike in early December, even as national rate holds at 1.2 percent
California jobless claims rose sharply in the latest weekly report, adding new pressure to a state that already reports one of the nation’s higher insured unemployment rates.
For the week ending Dec. 6, unadjusted initial claims in California reached 48,041. That total rose by 14,499 from 33,542 a week earlier, one of the largest weekly increases in the country.
The prior week still showed a sizable claimant flow. In the week ending Nov. 29, California jobless claims stood at 33,542, even after a large drop of 19,844 from the previous week. That earlier decline placed California among the states with the biggest decreases in new claims for that period, before the latest rebound. Department Of Labour
Continuing Claims
Continuing claims also moved higher. For the week ending Nov. 29, insured unemployment in California under regular state programs totaled 410,337, up 97,157 from 313,180 a week earlier. That unadjusted total ranked among the highest state tallies nationwide.
National Unemployment
Nationally, the seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate fell to 1.2 percent, but the Labour Department listed California among states with elevated rates. In the week ending Nov. 22, California’s insured unemployment rate stood at 1.7 percent, alongside Nevada, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island and Oregon, and just below New Jersey and Washington at 2.2 percent. DOL
Seasonal Fluctuations
The federal release notes that weekly claims fluctuate strongly because of seasonal factors, including holidays, school schedules and weather. Those swings often show up clearly in construction, retail, tourism and logistics, sectors that play important roles across the Sacramento region and in cities such as Folsom.
Local employers and workers rely on California jobless claims data as one signal of shifting layoff and rehiring trends. The latest spike will add urgency to year-end planning as residents weigh job prospects and businesses assess staffing levels going into 2026.
Unemployment insurance data, December 2025.
