By Jorge Mercado Monday, April 21st, 2025

The unemployment rate in each of the tri-counties saw slight declines in March, a sigh of relief for the Central Coast as a whole after a very turbulent February.

According to the latest data provided by the California Employment Development Department on April 18, the unemployment rate for the Central Coast as a whole was 4.5% in March, down from a two-year high of 4.93% in February.

The unemployment rate for Santa Barbara County fell back below 5% in March, sitting at 4.9% compared to 5.2%.

Ventura County, which sported a 4.7% unemployment rate in February, was at a 4.5% unemployment rate in March.

Finally, San Luis Obispo County’s unemployment rate was at 4.1% in March, down from 4.2% in February.

Despite the slight dip in unemployment, the Central Coast did not do much in the way of job creation in March. According to the report, the tri-counties only added 700 nonfarming jobs in March.

Santa Barbara County was the only area to see a net reduction in nonfarming jobs with a loss of 200 after losses in various sectors. Ventura County added 500 total nonfarming jobs while San Luis Obispo added 400.

As for the state, California’s unemployment rate decreased slightly to 5.3% in March, down from 5.4% in February and 5.5% in December.

Although California lost 11,600 nonfarm jobs in March, it increased year-over-year by 46,500 jobs between March 2024 and March 2025. 

Three of California’s 11 industry sectors gained jobs in March with private education and health services adding over 12,000 jobs and posting a gain for the 38th straight month, due to above-average gains in nursing care facilities, individual and family services, and child day care services.

Source: California Employment Development Department 

4.5% – The unemployment rate along the Central Coast in March

700 – Net gain of non-farming jobs along the Central Coast in March

5.3% – The unemployment rate for California in March