Santa Barbara’s unemployment rate rises to 4.5% in December
Two of the three counties on the Central Coast saw their unemployment rates continue to fall in December with the only exception being Santa Barbara County, according to the latest data provided by the California Employment Development Department.
Released on Jan. 24, the unemployment rate for Santa Barbara County was at 4.5% for the month of December, up 0.2% from the previous month.
The county with the highest unemployment rate, however, remained Ventura County, which sported a 4.7% unemployment rate in December, down from 4.9% in the previous month.
San Luis Obispo County’s unemployment rate was at 3.7% in December, down from 3.9% in November.
The unemployment rate of the tri-counties as a whole was at 4.3% in December, down from 4.36% in November and 4.36% in October.
The Central Coast struggled to add jobs, however, as the tri-counties had a net loss of only 700 nonfarming jobs in December.
San Luis Obispo had a net loss of 1,300 nonfarming jobs due in large part to 1,200 government job cuts.
Santa Barbara only had a net gain of 200 nonfarming jobs while Ventura County add 400 nonfarming jobs.
As for the state, California’s unemployment rate increased slightly to 5.5% in December, up from 5.4% in November.
Seven of California’s 11 industry sectors gained jobs in December with Leisure & Hospitality being the highest-gaining industry group with 7,500 jobs added thanks to an increased demand in Amusement Parks and Arcades as well as in recreation-related sectors.
Source: California Employment Development Department
4.3% – The unemployment rate along the Central Coast in December
-700 – Net loss of non-farming jobs along the Central Coast in December
5.5% – The unemployment rate for California in December
