Overall unemployment rate moved down to 6.3% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which gained 700 roles, based on the most recently available information published in September 2021.
Total employment in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA market declined by 427 jobs in August and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 30 bps to 6.3%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 38 bps over the same time to 5.3%.
- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA unemployment rate is 101 bps above the national rate which is a negative sign.
- Unemployment in the market is 290 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
- Average wages (per hour) grew in August versus prior month by 0.5% and are up compared to last year at this time in the market.
For key employment segments of the market, total jobs grew by 0.9% . Key sectors include:
- Government: 18,100; +500
- Education & Healthcare: 17,100; +100
- Transportation & Utilities: 15,600; -200
- Restaurants & Hotels: 11,500; +700
- Business Services: 10,600; +100
- Manufacturing: 7,000; -100
- Other Jobs: 4,800; -200
- Construction, Mining: 4,600; -100
- Financial Services: 3,100; no change
- IT & Development: 500; no change
Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through August 2021 (Data published September 2021 and reports created on September 29, 2021). Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.
Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.