Tri-county unemployment rate down from April, up year-over-year
The unemployment rate in each of the tri-counties saw continued declines in May from April, but the jobless rate is still higher than at this time a year ago.
According to the latest data provided by the California Employment Development Department on June 20, the unemployment rate for the Central Coast was 3.8% in May, down below 4% for the first time since May 2024.
It is higher than last year’s May Central Coast unemployment rate, which was at 3.4%.
The unemployment rate for Santa Barbara County was at 3.7% in May, down from 4.2% in April but above last year’s May unemployment rate of 3.4%.
Ventura County, which sported a 4.3% unemployment rate in April, was at a 4.1% unemployment rate in May. Last year’s May unemployment rate was at 3.7%.
Finally, San Luis Obispo County’s unemployment rate was at 3.6% in May, down from 3.8% in April, but up from last year’s unemployment rate of 3.2% in May.
The Central Coast also added nearly 3,100 nonfarming jobs in May, according to the report.
Ventura County added the most with 1,400 nonfarming jobs, including 600 in the leisure and hospitality sector, which is coming right as tourism season picks up for the region.
San Luis Obispo added 1,000 nonfarming jobs, including 700 in the leisure and hospitality sector, and Santa Barbara County added 700 nonfarming jobs.
As for the state, California’s unemployment rate remained the same, sitting at 5.3% in May, down from 5.4% in February and 5.5% in December.
Since April 2024, California’s unemployment rate has increased by 0.1%, compared to the national unemployment rate, which has increased by 0.3% over the same period.
Six of California’s 11 industry sectors gained jobs in May, with Private Education and Health Services (+10,400) posting a gain for the 40th consecutive month.
The largest gains were in Health Care and Social Assistance (+14,100) subsectors, which include fields such as outpatient care centers and individual and family services, partly due to California’s aging population.
Source: California Employment Development Department
3.8% – The unemployment rate along the Central Coast in May
3,100 – Net gain of non-farming jobs along the Central Coast in May
5.3% – The unemployment rate for California in May
