Overall unemployment rate moved down to 5.8% with the biggest shift in Government, which lost 4,900 roles, based on the most recently available information published in September 2021.
Total employment in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA market rose by 774 jobs in July and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 10 bps to 5.8%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 43 bps over the same time to 5.7%.
- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA unemployment rate is 14 bps above the national rate which is a negative sign.
- Unemployment in the market is 380 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
- Average wages (per hour) grew in July versus prior month by 5.6% and are up compared to last year at this time in the market.
For key employment segments of the market, total jobs declined by -1.9%. Key sectors include:
- Business Services: 36,000; +400
- Government: 30,900; -4,900
- Education & Healthcare: 28,000; +200
- Transportation & Utilities: 26,400; +300
- Restaurants & Hotels: 23,400; +400
- Manufacturing: 11,900; no change
- Construction, Mining: 9,700; +100
- Financial Services: 6,500; no change
- Other Jobs: 5,700; no change
- IT & Development: 4,000; no change
Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through July 2021 (Data published September 2021 and reports created on September 1, 2021). Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.
Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.