Overall unemployment rate moved down to 8.1% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which gained 300 roles, based on the most recently available information published in April 2021.
Total employment in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA market declined by 218 jobs in March and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 40 bps to 8.1%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 38 bps over the same time to 6.2%.
- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA unemployment rate is 192 bps above the national rate which is a negative sign.
- Unemployment in the market is 70 bps above the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a negative.
- Average wages (per hour) declined in March versus prior month by -2.7% and are down compared to last year at this time in the market.
For key employment segments of the market, total jobs grew by 0.3% . Key sectors include:
- Government: 19,100; +200
- Education & Healthcare: 16,600; -200
- Transportation & Utilities: 16,200; -100
- Business Services: 10,500; no change
- Restaurants & Hotels: 8,300; +300
- Manufacturing: 7,000; +100
- Construction, Mining: 4,400; +100
- Other Jobs: 4,400; no change
- Financial Services: 3,100; -100
- IT & Development: 500; no change
Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through March 2021 (Data published April 2021 and reports created on April 29, 2021). Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.
Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.