By Jorge Mercado Monday, July 22nd, 2024

After three straight months of seeing the unemployment rate fall, the Central Coast’s unemployment rate saw a dramatic jump from May to June, according to the latest data provided by the California Employment Development Department.

Released July 18, the unemployment rate of the tri-counties was at 4.23% in June, up from an unemployment rate of 3.33% in May and 3.96% in April.

All three counties on the Central Coast saw their respective unemployment rates drop increase with no single county having an unemployment rate below 4%.

San Luis Obispo County’s unemployment rate saw the steepest month-over-month increase, posting an 4% unemployment rate, up from an 3% unemployment rate in May.

Santa Barbara County’s unemployment rate jumped from 3.4% to 4.2% in June while Ventura County had the highest unemployment rate with 4.5%, up from 3.7% in the prior month.

In terms of job growth, the Central Coast added just 300 nonfarming jobs in May, down from 3,400 in the month prior and easily the worst mark so far this year.

Ventura County had a net gain of zero nonfarming jobs, despite adding 500 in the trade, transportation and utilities section.

San Luis Obispo adding 400 government jobs helped them attain a net gain of 200 jobs in the month of June.

As for the state, California’s unemployment rate stayed at 5.2% in the month of June.

California’s employers added 22,500 nonfarm payroll jobs in June.

Seven of California’s 11 industry sectors gained jobs in June with the largest increase coming in the trade, transportation and utilities industry adding 9,800 jobs. The manufacturing sector recorded a month-over job loss (-2,900), which mirrored a similar loss in manufacturing nationally.

Source: California Employment Development Department 

4.23% – The unemployment rate along the Central Coast in June

+300 – net gain of non-farming jobs along the Central Coast in June

5.2% – The unemployment rate for California in June