# Southern California bosses all but stopped hiring last year.

*business · news · 2026-04-07 · Santa Ana Orange County Register*

## Key points

- Southern California added only 8,900 jobs in 2025, an 85% drop from 2024.
- Orange County was the only Southern California metro to lose jobs, down 7,600 in 2025.
- The Inland Empire led regional job growth but saw a 58% decline from its 2024 gains.
- Only 16% of California's 2025 job growth occurred in Southern California, a sharp regional slowdown.

**Countries:** United States

[Read the full story on Santa Ana Orange County Register](https://www.ocregister.com/2026/04/07/southern-california-job-growth-tumbled-93-below-average-in-2025/)

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