Overall unemployment rate moved down to 6.0% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which gained 1,300 roles, based on the most recently available information published in June 2021.
Total employment in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA market rose by 2,990 jobs in April and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 60 bps to 6.0%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 43 bps over the same time to 5.7%.
- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA unemployment rate is 25 bps above the national rate which is a negative sign.
- Unemployment in the market is 800 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
- Average wages (per hour) grew in April versus prior month by 2.1% and are down compared to last year at this time in the market.
For key employment segments of the market, total jobs grew by 1.7% . Key sectors include:
- Government: 35,500; +600
- Business Services: 35,200; +300
- Education & Healthcare: 28,200; +200
- Transportation & Utilities: 25,900; +300
- Restaurants & Hotels: 21,300; +1,300
- Manufacturing: 11,600; -100
- Construction, Mining: 9,900; +300
- Financial Services: 6,600; no change
- Other Jobs: 5,400; +100
- IT & Development: 3,900; no change
Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through April 2021 (Data published June 2021 and reports created on June 2, 2021). Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.
Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.