Employment Development Department

What Employment Development Department does

The Employment Development Department (EDD) is a California state government agency founded in 1936 and headquartered in Sacramento, responsible for administering Unemployment Insurance (UI), Disability Insurance (DI), Paid Family Leave (PFL), and state payroll tax programs. EDD serves California's full workforce ecosystem — approximately 18.2 million payroll jobs and the employers who fund these statutory benefits — through a multi-channel delivery model that includes the myEDD online portal, UI Online, SDI Online, the CalJOBS job exchange, America's Job Centers of California, EDD Tele-Cert automated certification, and multilingual phone support in over 100 languages including Pohnpeian, Marshallese, and Hmong.

The agency's technology infrastructure integrates online benefits portals with labor-market information dashboards and is built on the Elastic Search AI Platform. In June 2026, EDD launched the California AI-Unemployment Tracker (CAIT), the first-in-the-nation public dashboard providing monthly early indicators of AI-related job displacement, developed in partnership with the California Policy Lab at UCLA. CAIT integrates Unemployment Insurance claims data with AI-exposure measures to identify vulnerable occupations and sectors, supporting proactive workforce policy interventions under Governor Newsom's executive order directing state agencies to prepare for AI-driven labor-market disruptions.

EDD is funded through employer payroll tax contributions to the UI Trust Fund (maximum $434 per employee annually on the first $7,000 in wages), employee-funded State Disability Insurance deductions, and federal funding via FUTA. The agency operates under the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, employs more than 3,000 people at its recently relocated Sacramento headquarters at 1416 9th Street, and administers benefit programs at a scale reflected in California's outstanding federal UI loan balance of approximately $21.3 billion as of January 2026.

Name

Employment Development Department

Legal name

Employment Development Department (State of California)

Website

https://edd.ca.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

The Employment Development Department (EDD) is California's state agency administering Unemployment Insurance, Disability Insurance, Paid Family Leave, and payroll tax programs for the state's workers and employers, delivering services through online portals, job centers, and multilingual support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Employment Benefits Administration

NAICS

Administration of Human Resource Programs (except Education, Public Health, and Veterans' Affairs Programs) (92313), Administration of Human Resource Programs (923), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Employment Placement Agencies (561311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Unemployment Insurance & Employment Support Benefits (BPAIAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability & Leave Administration (STD/LTD/FMLA/Paid Leave) (HLAEALAM), State/Provincial Human Services & Benefits Administration (Welfare, Disability, Child & Family) (BPAIABAI), Dislocated Worker & Rapid Response / Reemployment Programs (EDAAAOAF), Incumbent Worker Training & Upskilling (EDAAAOAE)

Keywords

• Unemployment insurance administration
• Disability insurance benefits
• Paid family leave benefits
• Payroll tax administration
• Workforce development services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Payroll Tax Contributions: California employers fund regular Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits through contributions to the state’s UI Trust Fund on behalf of each employee. Tax-rated employers pay a percentage on the first $7,000 in subject wages paid to each employee annually. New employers pay 3.4 percent for two to three years. Maximum UI tax is $434 per employee per year.
2. Federal Funding: Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) funding from the federal government for UI program administration, UI loans to states, and federal extension benefits. California has an outstanding federal loan balance of approximately $21.3 billion as of January 2026 UI Fund Forecast.
3. State Disability Insurance (SDI): Employee-funded program through payroll deductions providing partial wage replacement for workers unable to work due to non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Employment Development Department (EDD) administers California's statutory employment-related benefit programs and labor market information services. Core offerings include Unemployment Insurance wage replacement, Disability Insurance and Paid Family Leave benefits, employer payroll tax administration, and workforce development services delivered through online portals (myEDD, UI Online, SDI Online, CalJOBS) and in-person America's Job Centers of California. The agency funded by employer payroll tax contributions, employee SDI deductions, and federal FUTA funds; it recently launched the nation's first AI-Unemployment Tracker (CAIT) dashboard to provide early indicators of AI-driven job displacement.

Product overview

The Employment Development Department (EDD) provides a unified suite of employment-related benefits and services for California workers and employers. The core offerings include Unemployment Insurance Benefits, Disability Insurance Benefits, and Paid Family Leave Benefits, which are accessible through the myEDD portal, UI Online, and SDI Online platforms. The department also offers employer services including Payroll Taxes management via e-Services for Business, the Work Sharing Program to prevent layoffs, and job seeker services through CalJOBS and America's Job Center of California. All services are complemented by Labor Market Information dashboards providing real-time labor market data.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• myEDD: Online portal for applying for unemployment benefits, resetting passwords, and chatting with live agents
• CalJOBS
• SDI Online
• CAIT (California AI-Unemployment Tracker)
• EDD Tele-Cert

Products and services

• Unemployment Insurance Benefits Short-term partial wage replacement benefits for California workers who lose their jobs or have hours reduced through no fault of their own. Includes programs for federal workers and disaster-related unemployment assistance.
• Disability Insurance Benefits Partial wage replacement for eligible California workers unable to work due to non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy, funded by employee SDI payroll deductions.
• Paid Family Leave Benefits Benefits for individuals who need to take time off work to care for a seriously ill family member, bond with a new child, or handle qualifying military events.
• Work Sharing Program A program that helps employers retain employees during economic slowdowns by allowing reduced work hours while employees receive partial unemployment benefits.
• Payroll Taxes Services Online tools and resources for employers to manage state payroll taxes, including e-Services for Business for account management, filing reports, and making deposits; new employers pay 3.4% UI tax for 2-3 years (max $434 per employee per year).
• CalJOBS California's online job exchange system connecting job seekers with employment opportunities, resume building, career exploration, and access to America's Job Center of California services.
• America's Job Center of California Physical and online locations providing job search assistance, career services, employer support, and workforce training resources throughout California.
• AI-Unemployment Tracker (CAIT) First-in-the-nation public dashboard developed with the California Policy Lab at UCLA that provides monthly early indicators of AI-related job displacement across sectors using UI claims data integrated with AI exposure measures, designed to enable proactive policy interventions and workforce retraining.
• myEDD Portal A comprehensive online portal for individuals to apply for unemployment benefits, disability insurance, and paid family leave, check claim status, certify for benefits, chat with agents, and manage benefit overpayments.
• Labor Market Information Data dashboards and statistical information on unemployment claims, benefits paid, job growth, and labor market trends in California, published on the Labor Market Information portal.

Quantifiable outcome

• Monthly updated dashboard tracking AI exposure in occupations and unemployment claims patterns
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Mother Lode Van & StorageminorOthers · 2 April 2025Commercial moving company that completed the relocation of EDD headquarters in Sacramento, moving more than 3,000 employees from 722 Capitol Mall to 1416 9th Street with zero public service disruption.
• California Policy Lab at UCLAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for developing the AI-Unemployment Tracker (CAIT), a first-in-the-nation public dashboard providing monthly early indicators of AI-related job displacement. The tracker uses Unemployment Insurance claims data integrated with AI exposure measures to identify vulnerable sectors and workers.
• Governor Gavin Newsom's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership under executive order directing state agencies to prepare for AI-driven labor market disruptions. The AI-Unemployment Tracker was launched as part of this initiative to enable proactive policy interventions, workforce retraining programs, and support resources for affected workers.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Social Security Administration: Federal agency administering disability benefits (SSDI) and related income-replacement programs. Comparable in operating large-scale disability benefit administration infrastructure — analogous to EDD's State Disability Insurance function.
• U.S. Department of Labor: Federal-level labor department overseeing state UI programs (FUTA), workforce development funding (WIOA), and labor market data (BLS). Comparable as the federal counterpart that funds and regulates state UI agencies like EDD.

Direct peers

• Ohio Department of Job and Family Services: Ohio's combined employment and human services agency administering UI, workforce development, and benefit programs. Comparable in integrated service-delivery model spanning unemployment, training, and family-support benefits.
• Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance: Massachusetts's dedicated UI agency. Comparable in operating state unemployment insurance administration, employer tax collection, and job-seeker services.
• New Jersey Department of Labor: New Jersey's state labor agency administering UI, TDI (temporary disability insurance), and family leave insurance. Highly comparable — particularly for the disability and paid leave programs analogous to EDD's SDI and PFL.
• New York State Department of Labor: New York's state labor agency administers unemployment insurance, paid family leave, and workforce development programs for a comparable large-state economy. Directly comparable in mandate, benefit structure, and service delivery model.
• Texas Workforce Commission: Texas's state agency administering UI, workforce services, and labor market information. Comparable in statutory mandate and scope, with similar CalJOBS-equivalent job-matching infrastructure.
• Washington State Employment Security Department: Washington's UI and workforce agency. Comparable in administering state unemployment insurance, paid family leave, and labor market data — including innovative technology programs similar to CAIT.
• Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry: Pennsylvania's labor agency administering UC benefits, workforce development, and labor market information. Directly comparable in administering state UI and employer services for a major state economy.
• Illinois Department of Employment Security: Illinois's UI administration agency. Comparable in operating state unemployment insurance, job-matching services, and labor market data infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/CA_EDD
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CaliforniaEDD
• Facebookfacebook.com/californiaedd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/californiaedd
• Instagraminstagram.com/ca_edd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Employment Development Department