Overall unemployment rate moved down to 6.8% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which gained 500 roles, based on the most recently available information published in June 2021.
Total employment in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA market rose by 3,504 jobs in May and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 90 bps to 6.8%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 25 bps over the same time to 5.5%.
- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA unemployment rate is 130 bps above the national rate which is a negative sign.
- Unemployment in the market is 750 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
- Average wages (per hour) declined in May 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 0.8% . Key sectors include:
- Government: 19,400; -100
- Education & Healthcare: 17,100; +400
- Transportation & Utilities: 16,200; no change
- Business Services: 10,500; -100
- Restaurants & Hotels: 9,500; +500
- Manufacturing: 7,100; +100
- Construction, Mining: 4,500; no change
- Other Jobs: 4,500; no change
- Financial Services: 3,100; no change
- IT & Development: 500; -100
Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through May 2021 (Data published June 2021 and reports created on June 30, 2021). Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.
Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.