California employers added 41,400 new jobs in April.
The gain lowered the state's unemployment rate to 4.6%. That's the lowest it's been since the start of the pandemic.
California has now regained more than 91% of the 2.7 million jobs lost in March and April 2020. That was the beginning of the pandemic when Gov. Gavin Newsom issued the nation's first statewide stay-at-home order.
California's labor force also increased in April, a sign more people are looking for work.
But there are troubling signs on the horizon.
Inflation remains high and home sales have slowed as interest rates have increased.
The unemployment rate in San Luis Obispo County was 2.4% in April, down from 2.8% in March. In April 2021, it was 5.9%.
In Santa Barbara County, the unemployment rate was 2.8% in April, down from 3.6% in March. It was 6.4% in April 2021.
