San Diego County, CA jobs, unemployment and layoffs
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Show me jobs near meSan Diego County economy
4.7%
unemployment, Sep 2026
4.9% the month before
1,656,661
in the labor force
Source: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics
3,282,782
people in San Diego County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
$102,285
median household income
Source: Census ACS
47%
of workers in white-collar occupations
Management, business, financial and professional; Census ACS
Where San Diego County ranks
Where San Diego County placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.
November 2026
- #7Best counties for laid-off professionals in the West Coast67 / 100 · of 34
- #8Counties with the most job openings per unemployed person in the West Coast5 per 100 · of 35
- #8Counties with the most jobs in AI-exposed sectors in the West Coast24% · of 68
- #10Best county job markets for job seekers in the West Coast58 / 100 · of 34
- #15Counties with the highest share of white-collar workers in the West Coast47% · of 86
San Diego County outlook: Steady
Built from public Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census figures. It describes the area, not any one employer in it.
- Private-sector jobs up 0.9% from 2022 to 2025
- Population down 0.6% from 2020 to 2025
- Unemployment 4.7%, down 0.2 points from a year ago
- Sectors adding the most jobs: health care (+37,066 jobs), hotels & food (+6,464 jobs)
- Sectors losing the most jobs: admin & staffing (−9,391 jobs), professional & technical (−8,649 jobs)
Local job-market news
Recent headlines about layoffs, AI and jobs in San Diego County. Each link goes to the publisher.
- San Diego man gets laid off but doesn’t sit around waiting now 1,500 people want his pizzaslatination · Nov 10, 2026
- San Diego man started a small pizza business in his apartment after being laid off, and now he makes 15 a week and sells out in under 30 secondsYahoo · Nov 9, 2026
- San Diego's Award-Winning Mostra Coffee Faces Eviction, Debt Lawsuits And State Wage Claims Amid Closure Questionssandiegoville · Nov 1, 2026
- ServiceNow cuts San Diego sales jobs in third round of layoffs this yearThe San Diego Union-Tribune · Oct 19, 2026
- California health care giant plans mass layoffs across the stateWhen In Your State USA on MSN · Oct 7, 2026
- Kaiser Permanente to lay off 147 employees in California, most in San DiegoFOX 5 San Diego on MSN · Oct 1, 2026
Learn and get funded in San Diego County
- Which AI skills each kind of job asks for, with the pay premium.
- Your local workforce board and American Job Centers: training vouchers and re-employment help.
- Grants and funding for job seekers, ranked for your state and situation.
- Unemployment benefits by state, if you are between jobs.
San Diego County layoffs
29
Layoff notices, last 12 months
1,149
workers named
A floor: states may leave out counts
15
employers
| Notice date | Employer | City or county | Workers | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Shield of CATakes effect Jan 12, 2027 | San Diego County | 4 | Layoff Permanent | State record | |
| ServiceNow, Inc.Takes effect Jan 4, 2027 | San Diego County | 25 | Layoff Permanent | State record | |
| Crinetics PharmaceuticalsTakes effect Jan 4, 2026 | San Diego County | 78 | Layoff Permanent | State record | |
| Pacific Coast Grill Inc.Takes effect Mar 1, 2026 | San Diego County | 119 | Closure Temporary | State record | |
| Sapporo U.S.A.Takes effect Dec 11, 2026 | San Diego County | 1 | Closure Permanent | State record | |
| Worldwide Flight ServicesTakes effect Jan 4, 2027 | San Diego County | 59 | Layoff Permanent | State record | |
| Avidity Biosciences, Inc.Takes effect Dec 31, 2026 | San Diego County | 40 | Layoff Permanent | State record | |
| EndeavorsTakes effect Dec 31, 2026 | San Diego County | 31 | Layoff Permanent | State record | |
| ServiceNow, Inc.Takes effect Dec 14, 2026 | San Diego County | 18 | Layoff Permanent | State record | |
| Sapporo U.S.A - Citracado ParkwayTakes effect Dec 11, 2026 | San Diego County | 2 | Closure Permanent | State record | |
| Sapporo U.S.A.Takes effect Dec 11, 2026 | San Diego County | 1 | Closure Permanent | State record | |
| Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD)Takes effect Sep 1, 2026 | San Diego County | 85 | Layoff Permanent | State record | |
| KaiserTakes effect Nov 20, 2026 | San Diego County | 72 | Layoff Permanent | State record | |
| KaiserTakes effect Nov 20, 2026 | San Diego County | 2 | Layoff Permanent | State record | |
| KaiserTakes effect Nov 20, 2026 | San Diego County | 1 | Layoff Permanent | State record |
Employers hiring most in San Diego County
Employers with the most open professional roles in this county’s cities. The county is taken from each job’s city, so roles with no city are not counted.
- General Atomics344 open roles
- Qualcomm Inc/De312 open roles
- Apple105 open roles
- Qualcomm Technologies83 open roles
- Intuit78 open roles
- Viasat77 open roles
- Shield AI75 open roles
- UC San Diego65 open roles
- Northrop Grumman63 open roles
- L3HARRIS Technologies57 open roles
Largest employers headquartered in San Diego County
- Qualcommabout 45,000 employees (2021)
- Dexcom5,001–20,000 employees
- Jack in the Box5,001–20,000 employees
- ResMed5,001–20,000 employees
- University of California, San Diego5,001–20,000 employees
- San Diego State University1,001–5,000 employees
Employee counts with a year are published figures (Wikidata). Other sizes are estimates from our company directory, not payroll counts.
Colleges in San Diego County
| College | City | Type | Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| National University | San Diego | Private non-profit 4-year | 20,000+ |
| San Diego State University | San Diego | Public 4-year | 20,000+ |
| University of California-San Diego | La Jolla | Public 4-year | 20,000+ |
| California State University-San Marcos | San Marcos | Public 4-year | 10,000–19,999 |
| Northcentral University | San Diego | Private non-profit 4-year | 5,000–9,999 |
| University of San Diego | San Diego | Private non-profit 4-year | 5,000–9,999 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego | Private non-profit 4-year | 1,000–4,999 |
| California Western School of Law | San Diego | Private non-profit 4-year | Under 1,000 |
| Franciscan School of Theology | San Diego | Private non-profit 4-year | Under 1,000 |
| High Tech High Graduate School of Education | San Diego | Private non-profit 4-year | Under 1,000 |
| John Paul the Great Catholic University | Escondido | Private non-profit 4-year | Under 1,000 |
| San Diego Christian College | Santee | Private non-profit 4-year | Under 1,000 |
| Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute | La Jolla | Private non-profit 4-year | Under 1,000 |
| Southern California Seminary | El Cajon | Private non-profit 4-year | Under 1,000 |
| The Chicago School at San Diego | San Diego | Private non-profit 4-year | Under 1,000 |
| Thomas Jefferson School of Law | San Diego | Private non-profit 4-year | Under 1,000 |
| Westminster Theological Seminary in California | Escondido | Private non-profit 4-year | Under 1,000 |
Conferences in San Diego County
Industry conferences and trade shows held in San Diego County. 77 with dates announced.
- TwitchCon San Diego
Nov 13 to Nov 15, 2026 · San Diego, CA
Paid ticket. Ticket prices are on the Buy Passes page (not read).
- AICPA & CIMA Women's Leadership Summit
Nov 16 to Nov 18, 2026 · San Diego, CA
Ticket $995 to $1,445. In-person: AICPA member $995, non-member $1,445.
- SJDM Annual Meeting
Nov 20 to Nov 22, 2026 · San Diego, CA
Ticket $265 to $595. Late registration $595 regular, $265 student/postdoc; membership $50 or $15 required.
- CSBA Annual Education Conference and Trade Show
Dec 3 to Dec 5, 2026 · San Diego, CA
Free expo floor; session passes $799 to $999. 2026 AEC: early (Jun 9-Aug 11) $799; regular (Aug 12-Nov 9) $899; late/onsite (from…
- CIC Presidents Institute
Jan 4 to Jan 7, 2027 · San Diego, CA
Ticket $1,090 to $1,430. President: CIC member $1,090, nonmember $1,430. Spouse/partner $655 member, $940 nonmember. Optional…
- AGC Construction Safety & Health Conference
Jan 20 to Jan 22, 2027 · San Diego, CA
Paid ticket, price not listed
Open call for speakers
- FMI Midwinter Executive Conference
Jan 20 to Jan 23, 2027 · Chula Vista, CA
By invitation only. FMI site describes the Midwinter Executive Conference as invitation-only and member-only.
- PIHRA California Employment Law Update (San Diego)
Jan 21, 2027 · San Diego, CA
Paid ticket. Prices on registration pages, not on the event page.
- Novogradac New Markets Tax Credit Conference
Jan 21 to Jan 22, 2027 · San Diego, CA
Paid ticket. Prices not read.
- AACC Workforce Development Institute
Jan 26 to Jan 29, 2027 · San Diego, CA
Paid ticket. Venue listed as Town and Country Resort, North San Diego; confirm city.
- CXUnifiers
Jan 28, 2027 · San Diego, CA
Ticket $895 to $1,295. 2026 in-person early bird $895, standard $1,095, last call $1,295; virtual ticket also offered
- SLAS International Conference & Exhibition
Jan 30 to Feb 3, 2027 · San Diego, CA
Paid ticket. Member discount noted; fees not read.
Showing 12 of 99 conferences, 77 with dates announced.
Workforce development and job centers
The public workforce board and American Job Centers serving San Diego County. They offer free help with job search, training and filing for benefits.
Laid off in California? How to file for unemployment in California (steps, weekly amount and the appeal deadline).
South Bay Career Center
Chula Vista · Comprehensive · 619-319-9675
Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5 :00p.m.
East County Career Center
El Cajon · Affiliate · 619-319-9675
Monday - Friday 8:00am- 5:00pm
America`s Job Center of California-North County Coastal Career Center
Oceanside · Affiliate · 760-666-6763
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm
North County Coastal Career Center
Oceanside · Affiliate
Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Metro Career Center
San Diego · Affiliate
Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Cities in San Diego County
Other California counties
Laid off or looking for work in San Diego County?
See what to do first and the jobs open near you.
See your options after a layoffSources: Census Bureau and BLS (county unemployment is not seasonally adjusted); layoff notices from California’s published record; job counts from our live job board; IPEDS for colleges; CareerOneStop for workforce boards and job centers. California unemployment benefits and severance rules.
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