Overall unemployment rate moved down to 2.8% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which gained 600 roles, based on the most recently available information published in June 2022.
Total employment in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA market rose by 2,146 jobs in April and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 80 bps to 2.8%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 42 bps over the same time to 3.3%.
- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA unemployment rate is 54 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
- Unemployment in the market is 360 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 4.8% and are up compared to last year at this time in the market.
For key employment segments of the market, total jobs grew by 0.6% . Key sectors include:
- Government: 37,300; -100
- Business Services: 34,100; +300
- Education & Healthcare: 29,300; +200
- Restaurants & Hotels: 27,500; +600
- Transportation & Utilities: 27,300; +100
- Manufacturing: 12,400; no change
- Construction, Mining: 9,700; no change
- Financial Services: 6,900; +100
- Other Jobs: 6,200; no change
- IT & Development: 4,100; no change
Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through April 2022 (Data published June 2022 and reports created on June 1, 2022). Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.
Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.