County of Sonoma
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Job Market Tracker

Quarter 1 Highlights

  1. Job Postings: 11,099 unique postings in Q1 2026—up 8% from Q4 2025 but down 15% year-over-year from Q4 2024.
  2. Unemployment Rate: The quarterly average rate remained level at 4.4% from Q4 2025, with minor monthly deviations (October data unavailable due to federal government shutdown). The rate peaked at 4.9% in July and has declined steadily since. Sonoma County's quarterly rate of 4.4% compares favorably to California's 5.6% but is just slightly higher than the national rate of 4.33%.
  3. Job Growth Projection: The five-year job growth forecast has been revised to 4,817 jobs, a 4.5% increase from Q4 2025, but down 38% from last year’s first quarter forecast. These recent forecasts, much lower than prior years, reflect sustained contraction in the historically strong industries like Manufacturing and Retail Trade.
  4. Education Requirements: Bachelor's degree requirements rose slightly to 15% of postings, up from 13% Q4 and lower than 18% in the year prior. This modest increase from the prior quarter is largely driven by software developers, financial managers, registered nurses, and other occupations that require Bachelor’s degree.
  5. Median Advertised Salary: Previously, advertised salaries in Sonoma County closely aligned with those in Napa County. However, they have recently begun to diverge, with Sonoma County now averaging about $2,000 more per month. This shift is likely driven by an increase in higher‑paid positions that are being posted exclusively for Sonoma County. Median advertised salaries in Sonoma County were as follows:
    • January: $58,100
    • February: $64,800
    • March: $62,000

Methodology & Sources

Data from unique job postings is collected by Lightcast Analytics, including top employers, occupational groups, job postings, median annual salaries, largest employers, top skills and certifications. Lightcast is unable to access any non-publicly posted jobs, so data may not reflect the hiring demands of all Sonoma County employers. Labor market information was compiled from the California EDD and the BLS. Historical unemployment rates represent the average unemployment rate of the 3 months making up the quarter. Interested readers are encouraged to contact data resource agencies for further research or to visit www.sonomaedc.org for more information. Please direct all inquiries or suggestions for future reports to the EDC by calling (707) 565-7170 or emailing edc@sonomacounty.gov.

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