Unemployment in region ticks up in June but remains near historic lows
The June 2022 combined unemployment rate for the tri-county area was 2.96%, an increase from the record-low regional unemployment rate of 2.5 in May 2022, according to data released July 22 by the California Unemployment Development Department.
The June 2022 tri-county was still well below last year’s June unemployment rate of 6.2%.
California’s unemployment rate for June 2022 was 4.2%, down from 4.3% in May and 4.6% in April this year. The statewide unemployment rate is half of last year’s rate of 8.2% in June 2021. Unemployment in California continues its steady decline since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and is now the closest to pre-pandemic unemployment levels since state unemployment was 4.1% in February 2020.
Ventura County’s unemployment rate was 3.2% in June, an increase from 2.7% in May 2022 and below last year’s 6.8% rate in June 2021.
Santa Barbara County’s unemployment rate increased to 2.8% from 2.4% in May 2022. Both remain below the June 2021 unemployment rate of 6.2%.
The unemployment rate for San Luis Obispo county increased to 2.6% from 2.1% in May 2022, but still remains below 5.9% in June 2021.
The tri-county region gained 3,100 nonfarm jobs between June and May 2022. Santa Barbara County gained the most, with an increase of 1,200 nonfarm jobs. Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties’ workforce each increased 1% this past month, while the Ventura County workforce had a minimal decrease of 0.1%.
State employers added 19,900 nonfarm jobs this past month, with statewide payroll jobs increasing 4%. California has now gained 93.6% of the nonfarm jobs lost during March and April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Seven of California’s 11 job sectors gained jobs, with trade, transportation and utilities leading the way with 9,600 additional jobs from May to June 2022 due to increased strength in retail, transportation and warehousing. Education and health services were close behind with 5,700 added jobs due to greater strength in health care and social assistance. Professional and business services had the greatest monthly loss, of 6,100 jobs, because of declines in accounting and employment services.
