Data / Rankings / Labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate) / Cities in California

Cities in California by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate)

West Hollywood, CA had the highest labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 376 cities in 2021, at 79.1%. Laguna Woods, CA had the lowest, at 23.3%. The median was 64% and the figure for California was 63.9%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest79.1West Hollywood, CA
Lowest23.3Laguna Woods, CA
Median64376 cities
California63.9History

Top 40 cities, 2021

West Hollywood, CA: 79.1 %West Hollywood, CA79.1Emeryville, CA: 77.9 %Emeryville, CA77.9Aliso Viejo, CA: 75.9 %Aliso Viejo, CA75.9El Segundo, CA: 75.8 %El Segundo, CA75.8Mountain View, CA: 74.1 %Mountain View, CA74.1Costa Mesa, CA: 73.6 %Costa Mesa, CA73.6Lawndale, CA: 73.4 %Lawndale, CA73.4Hermosa Beach, CA: 73.2 %Hermosa Beach, CA73.2Redondo Beach, CA: 73 %Redondo Beach, CA73San Carlos, CA: 72.9 %San Carlos, CA72.9Rancho Santa Margarita, CA: 72.9 %Rancho Santa Margarita, CA72.9San Anselmo, CA: 72.3 %San Anselmo, CA72.3Burlingame, CA: 71.9 %Burlingame, CA71.9South Pasadena, CA: 71.8 %South Pasadena, CA71.8Sunnyvale, CA: 71.7 %Sunnyvale, CA71.7Santa Clara, CA: 71.3 %Santa Clara, CA71.3Redwood City, CA: 71.2 %Redwood City, CA71.2San Bruno, CA: 71.2 %San Bruno, CA71.2San Francisco, CA: 71.2 %San Francisco, CA71.2Newark, CA: 71 %Newark, CA71Dixon, CA: 70.8 %Dixon, CA70.8Rohnert Park, CA: 70.7 %Rohnert Park, CA70.7Windsor, CA: 70.7 %Windsor, CA70.7Port Hueneme, CA: 70.6 %Port Hueneme, CA70.6Twentynine Palms, CA: 70.6 %Twentynine Palms, CA70.6Belmont, CA: 70.6 %Belmont, CA70.6Coachella, CA: 70.5 %Coachella, CA70.5San Mateo, CA: 70.5 %San Mateo, CA70.5East Palo Alto, CA: 70.4 %East Palo Alto, CA70.4South Lake Tahoe, CA: 70.4 %South Lake Tahoe, CA70.4Campbell, CA: 70.2 %Campbell, CA70.2Truckee, CA: 70.1 %Truckee, CA70.1Tustin, CA: 70 %Tustin, CA70Goleta, CA: 70 %Goleta, CA70Grover Beach, CA: 70 %Grover Beach, CA70Eastvale, CA: 69.9 %Eastvale, CA69.9Livermore, CA: 69.9 %Livermore, CA69.9Dublin, CA: 69.8 %Dublin, CA69.8Newman, CA: 69.7 %Newman, CA69.7Hollister, CA: 69.6 %Hollister, CA69.6West Hollywood, CA: 79.1 %West Hollywood, CA79.1Emeryville, CA: 77.9 %Emeryville, CA77.9Aliso Viejo, CA: 75.9 %Aliso Viejo, CA75.9El Segundo, CA: 75.8 %El Segundo, CA75.8Mountain View, CA: 74.1 %Mountain View, CA74.1Costa Mesa, CA: 73.6 %Costa Mesa, CA73.6Lawndale, CA: 73.4 %Lawndale, CA73.4Hermosa Beach, CA: 73.2 %Hermosa Beach, CA73.2Redondo Beach, CA: 73 %Redondo Beach, CA73San Carlos, CA: 72.9 %San Carlos, CA72.9Rancho Santa Margarita, CA: 72.9 %Rancho Santa Margarita, CA72.9San Anselmo, CA: 72.3 %San Anselmo, CA72.3Burlingame, CA: 71.9 %Burlingame, CA71.9South Pasadena, CA: 71.8 %South Pasadena, CA71.8Sunnyvale, CA: 71.7 %Sunnyvale, CA71.7Santa Clara, CA: 71.3 %Santa Clara, CA71.3Redwood City, CA: 71.2 %Redwood City, CA71.2San Bruno, CA: 71.2 %San Bruno, CA71.2San Francisco, CA: 71.2 %San Francisco, CA71.2Newark, CA: 71 %Newark, CA71Dixon, CA: 70.8 %Dixon, CA70.8Rohnert Park, CA: 70.7 %Rohnert Park, CA70.7Windsor, CA: 70.7 %Windsor, CA70.7Port Hueneme, CA: 70.6 %Port Hueneme, CA70.6Twentynine Palms, CA: 70.6 %Twentynine Palms, CA70.6Belmont, CA: 70.6 %Belmont, CA70.6Coachella, CA: 70.5 %Coachella, CA70.5San Mateo, CA: 70.5 %San Mateo, CA70.5East Palo Alto, CA: 70.4 %East Palo Alto, CA70.4South Lake Tahoe, CA: 70.4 %South Lake Tahoe, CA70.4Campbell, CA: 70.2 %Campbell, CA70.2Truckee, CA: 70.1 %Truckee, CA70.1Tustin, CA: 70 %Tustin, CA70Goleta, CA: 70 %Goleta, CA70Grover Beach, CA: 70 %Grover Beach, CA70Eastvale, CA: 69.9 %Eastvale, CA69.9Livermore, CA: 69.9 %Livermore, CA69.9Dublin, CA: 69.8 %Dublin, CA69.8Newman, CA: 69.7 %Newman, CA69.7Hollister, CA: 69.6 %Hollister, CA69.6
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCities2021 (%)
1West Hollywood, CA79.1
2Emeryville, CA77.9
3Aliso Viejo, CA75.9
4El Segundo, CA75.8
5Mountain View, CA74.1
6Costa Mesa, CA73.6
7Lawndale, CA73.4
8Hermosa Beach, CA73.2
9Redondo Beach, CA73
10San Carlos, CA72.9
11Rancho Santa Margarita, CA72.9
12San Anselmo, CA72.3
13Burlingame, CA71.9
14South Pasadena, CA71.8
15Sunnyvale, CA71.7
16Santa Clara, CA71.3
17Redwood City, CA71.2
17San Bruno, CA71.2
19San Francisco, CA71.2
20Newark, CA71
21Dixon, CA70.8
22Rohnert Park, CA70.7
23Windsor, CA70.7
24Port Hueneme, CA70.6
25Twentynine Palms, CA70.6
26Belmont, CA70.6
27Coachella, CA70.5
27San Mateo, CA70.5
29East Palo Alto, CA70.4
30South Lake Tahoe, CA70.4
31Campbell, CA70.2
32Truckee, CA70.1
33Tustin, CA70
34Goleta, CA70
34Grover Beach, CA70
36Eastvale, CA69.9
37Livermore, CA69.9
38Dublin, CA69.8
39Newman, CA69.7
40Hollister, CA69.6
40Monterey, CA69.6
42Culver City, CA69.6
43Hawthorne, CA69.5
44La Habra, CA69.4
45American Canyon, CA69.4
46Martinez, CA69
47Lake Forest, CA68.9
48Oakland, CA68.9
49Albany, CA68.8
49La Mesa, CA68.8
51San Ramon, CA68.8
52Buena Park, CA68.6
53Alameda, CA68.5
53South San Francisco, CA68.5
55San Diego, CA68.3
55San Jose, CA68.3
57Oxnard, CA68.3
58Placentia, CA68.2
59Bellflower, CA68.1
60Vista, CA68.1
61Santa Monica, CA68.1
62Covina, CA68.1
63Imperial Beach, CA68
64Oakley, CA68
65Pacifica, CA67.9
66Daly City, CA67.9
67Morgan Hill, CA67.9
68Fremont, CA67.8
68Marina, CA67.8
70Tracy, CA67.8
71Suisun City, CA67.8
72Patterson, CA67.7
73Signal Hill, CA67.7
74Milpitas, CA67.6
75Brea, CA67.6
76Inglewood, CA67.6
77Lakewood, CA67.6
77Los Alamitos, CA67.6
79Gilroy, CA67.6
79Hayward, CA67.6
81Richmond, CA67.5
82Anaheim, CA67.4
83Concord, CA67.3
83Oceanside, CA67.3
85Santa Ana, CA67.3
86Foster City, CA67.3
87Burbank, CA67.2
88Napa, CA67.2
89Sierra Madre, CA67.2
90Huntington Park, CA67
91Santa Clarita, CA67
92Pleasanton, CA66.9
93Chula Vista, CA66.8
94Corona, CA66.8
94Moorpark, CA66.8
96Long Beach, CA66.8
97Monrovia, CA66.8
98El Cerrito, CA66.7
99Pleasant Hill, CA66.7
100Los Angeles, CA66.7
101Pasadena, CA66.6
102Laguna Hills, CA66.6
103Ontario, CA66.6
104Santa Barbara, CA66.6
105San Marcos, CA66.5
106Rancho Cordova, CA66.5
106West Sacramento, CA66.5
108Carpinteria, CA66.5
109Huntington Beach, CA66.5
110Santa Maria, CA66.5
111Fontana, CA66.4
112Lafayette, CA66.4
113Grand Terrace, CA66.4
113Maywood, CA66.4
115Santa Rosa, CA66.4
116Piedmont, CA66.3
117Simi Valley, CA66.3
118Menlo Park, CA66.2
119Hercules, CA66.2
120San Leandro, CA66.2
121Lomita, CA66.2
122Chico, CA66.1
123Fillmore, CA66.1
124Millbrae, CA66.1
125Union City, CA66
126Upland, CA66
127Rancho Cucamonga, CA66
128Petaluma, CA65.9
129Benicia, CA65.9
130Lemon Grove, CA65.8
131Irvine, CA65.8
132Azusa, CA65.8
132Fairfield, CA65.8
134Half Moon Bay, CA65.7
135Laguna Niguel, CA65.7
136Clovis, CA65.7
137Woodland, CA65.6
138San Rafael, CA65.5
139Downey, CA65.5
140Orange, CA65.5
141Chino Hills, CA65.5
142Fullerton, CA65.4
143Calabasas, CA65.4
144Livingston, CA65.3
145Elk Grove, CA65.3
146South Gate, CA65.3
147Larkspur, CA65.3
148Temecula, CA65.2
149Carlsbad, CA65.2
149Montebello, CA65.2
149Parlier, CA65.2
152Gardena, CA65.2
153Rialto, CA65.2
154Galt, CA65.1
155Seaside, CA65.1
156Stanton, CA65.1
157Encinitas, CA65.1
158Atascadero, CA65.1
159Ripon, CA65
160Roseville, CA64.9
161San Pablo, CA64.9
162Mendota, CA64.9
163Arcata, CA64.9
164Lake Elsinore, CA64.7
165Citrus Heights, CA64.7
166San Clemente, CA64.7
167Reedley, CA64.6
168Paramount, CA64.6
168Sacramento, CA64.6
170Lodi, CA64.6
171Mission Viejo, CA64.5
172Antioch, CA64.5
173Coronado, CA64.4
174Agoura Hills, CA64.4
175Watsonville, CA64.4
176Escondido, CA64.4
177Pittsburg, CA64.4
178Pinole, CA64.4
178Rocklin, CA64.4
180Brentwood, CA64.3
180San Fernando, CA64.3
180West Covina, CA64.3
183Torrance, CA64.3
184San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA64.2
185Vallejo, CA64.1
186Mountain House, CA64.1
187Cypress, CA64
188Atwater, CA64
189Lemoore, CA63.9
189Oakdale, CA63.9
191Kerman, CA63.9
192Poway, CA63.9
193Danville, CA63.8
193Perris, CA63.8
195Hawaiian Gardens, CA63.8
196La Puente, CA63.8
196Palo Alto, CA63.8
198Garden Grove, CA63.8
199Ukiah, CA63.7
200Moreno Valley, CA63.7
201Jurupa Valley, CA63.6
202Baldwin Park, CA63.5
203El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles), CA63.5
204Riverside, CA63.5
205Salinas, CA63.5
206Redlands, CA63.4
207Dinuba, CA63.3
208Ridgecrest, CA63.3
209El Cajon, CA63.3
209Murrieta, CA63.3
211Glendora, CA63.2
211Greenfield, CA63.2
211Newport Beach, CA63.2
214Santa Cruz, CA63.2
215Santee, CA63.2
216Bakersfield, CA63.2
216Yucaipa, CA63.2
218Dana Point, CA63.1
219Cudahy, CA63.1
220National City, CA63
220Pomona, CA63
222Duarte, CA63
222Farmersville, CA63
222San Juan Capistrano, CA63
222San Luis Obispo, CA63
226Sanger, CA62.9
227Yorba Linda, CA62.9
228Thousand Oaks, CA62.9
229Camarillo, CA62.8
230Scotts Valley, CA62.8
231Diamond Bar, CA62.8
232Visalia, CA62.7
233La Mirada, CA62.7
234Beaumont, CA62.7
235Alhambra, CA62.7
236Laguna Beach, CA62.7
236Madera, CA62.7
238Lathrop, CA62.6
239Manhattan Beach, CA62.6
240Highland, CA62.5
241Norwalk, CA62.4
242Porterville, CA62.4
243Glendale, CA62.4
244Novato, CA62.3
245El Monte, CA62.2
246Tulare, CA62.2
247San Gabriel, CA62.1
248Santa Paula, CA62.1
249Montclair, CA62.1
250Compton, CA62.1

Showing the top 250 of 376. The Excel download has every row.

Other periods

About this ranking

People aged 16 and over in the labor force (employed, unemployed or in the Armed Forces) as a percentage of all people aged 16 and over, including people in group quarters. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

The Census Bureau definition used in its data profiles. It differs from the BLS labor_force_participation_rate, which counts the civilian noninstitutional population only.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the cities are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more) (Cities in California by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in California by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/california-cities?period=2021. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Cities in California by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/california-cities?period=2021.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in California by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/california-cities?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_cities_in_california_by_2021,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in California by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/california-cities?period=2021. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in California by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/california-cities?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/california-cities?period=2021.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Rank Cities in California by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate) using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"labor_force_participation_rate_acs","level":"municipality","within":"California","limit":10}
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Questions

Which city has the highest labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

West Hollywood, CA, with 79.1% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which city has the lowest labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Laguna Woods, CA, with 23.3% in 2021.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate): other rankings

Cities in California: more rankings