Overall unemployment rate moved up to 6.2% with the biggest shift in Transportation & Utilities, which lost 500 roles, based on the most recently available information published in March 2022.
Total employment in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA market rose by 136 jobs in January and the unemployment rate increased compared to the prior month by 80 bps to 6.2%. The national unemployment rate increased by 74 bps over the same time to 4.4%.
- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA unemployment rate is 177 bps above the national rate which is a negative sign.
- Unemployment in the market is 250 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
- Average wages (per hour) grew in January versus prior month by 15.4% and are up compared to last year at this time in the market.
For key employment segments of the market, total jobs declined by -1.7%. Key sectors include:
- Government: 21,800; -400
- Education & Healthcare: 17,100; -100
- Transportation & Utilities: 16,400; -500
- Restaurants & Hotels: 11,800; -300
- Business Services: 10,600; -200
- Manufacturing: 7,500; +100
- Construction, Mining: 4,600; -200
- Other Jobs: 4,500; -100
- Financial Services: 3,300; no change
- IT & Development: 600; no change
Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through January 2022 (Data published March 2022 and reports created on March 18, 2022). Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.
Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.