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Job Market Tracker

Quarter 3 Highlights

  1. Job Postings: There were 11,686 unique job postings in Q3 2025, a 31% decrease compared to Q2.
  2. Unemployment Rate: The quarterly average unemployment rate rose to 4.7%, up from 4.1% in Q2. The rate peaked at 4.9% in July, then declined to 4.7% in August and 4.6% in September. For comparison, California’s unemployment rate was 5.6% and the U.S. rate was 4.4% in September.
  3. Job Growth Projection: The projected five-year job growth increased to 6,650 jobs, a 5.7% rise from the previous quarter’s projection of 6,249 jobs.
  4. Education Requirements: Job postings requiring a bachelor’s degree dropped to 13%, down from 20% in Q2. Similar declines were observed for master’s and doctoral degrees. Conversely, postings requiring a high school diploma or GED rose to 21%, up from 16% last quarter.
  5. Median Advertised Salary: After trending upward since 2024, median advertised salaries declined slightly in Q3, falling to $61,000 in September from a high of $64,000 in June.

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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