Overall unemployment rate moved down to 6.0% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which gained 500 roles, based on the most recently available information published in June 2023.
Total employment in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA market rose by 116 jobs in April and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 90 bps to 6.0%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 53 bps over the same time to 3.1%.
- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA unemployment rate is 290 bps above the national rate which is a negative sign.
- Unemployment in the market is 90 bps above the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a negative.
- Average wages (per hour) grew in April versus prior month by 9.1% and are up compared to last year at this time in the market.
Month over Month Unemployment Change
Year over Year Unemployment Change
For key employment segments of the market, total jobs grew by 1.1% . Key sectors include:
- Government: 19,900; -200
- Education & Healthcare: 18,600; +300
- Transportation & Utilities: 16,700; +100
- Restaurants & Hotels: 14,700; +500
- Business Services: 10,800; +100
- Manufacturing: 7,900; no change
- Other Jobs: 5,400; +100
- Construction, Mining: 5,200; +200
- Financial Services: 3,200; no change
- IT & Development: 600; no change
Employment Change by Key Sector
Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through April 2023 (Data published June 2023 and reports created on June 8,2023). Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.
Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.