Tri-county unemployment finally slows down upward trend
After three consecutive months of rising unemployment along the Central Coast, each of the tri-counties finally slowed that trend down in September according to the latest data from the California Employment Development Department.
Released Oct. 18, the unemployment rate of the tri-counties was at 4.3% in
September, down from an unemployment rate of 4.73% in August and 4.56% in June. The unemployment rate was at 4.23% in April.
All three counties on the Central Coast saw their respective unemployment rates decrease with no single county having an unemployment rate above 5%.
Ventura County still had the highest unemployment rate in September at 4.8% but fell from 5.2% in August.
Trailing them was Santa Barbara County, which saw its unemployment rate fall to 4.4% in September.
San Luis Obispo had the lowest unemployment rate along the Central Coast at 4%.
In terms of job growth, only about 1,800 nonfarming jobs were added, which was a better trend than the previous two months.
Santa Barbara County added 1,200 jobs, including 1,400 in the government sector while Ventura and San Luis Obispo County each added a net gain of 300 jobs.
As for the state, California’s unemployment rate stayed at 5.3% in September.
In September, 7 of California’s 11 industry sectors gained jobs, with the largest increase in Private Education & Health Services which added 9,600 jobs led by gains in Health Care and Social Assistance.
The government sector added 3,800 jobs while the leisure and hospitality sector lost 4,400 jobs.
Source: California Employment Development Department
4.3% – The unemployment rate along the Central Coast in September
+1800 – Net gain of non-farming jobs along the Central Coast in September
5.3% – The unemployment rate for California in September
