Tri-county unemployment rate sees dramatic jump in June
The unemployment rate on the Central Coast saw a dramatic shift year-over-year for the month of June, with the jobless rate going up in each of the tri-counties, according to the latest data provided by the California Employment Development Department.
Announced July 17, the unemployment rate for the Central Coast was at 4.83% for the month of June, up from an unemployment rate of 3.8% in May and up from a jobless rate of 4.3% in June 2024.
Last year’s June unemployment rate was also a dramatic shift upwards for the Central Coast. Some factors for this include the recent graduations of university students from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, UC Santa Barbara, CSU Channel Islands and Cal Lutheran who have likely yet to find full-time employment.
The unemployment rate for Santa Barbara County was at 4.7% in June, up from 3.7% in May and also above last year’s June unemployment rate of 4.3%.
Ventura County, which sported a 4.1% unemployment rate in May, was at a 5% unemployment rate in June. Last year’s June unemployment rate was at 4.5%.
Finally, San Luis Obispo County’s unemployment rate was at 4.8% in June, up from 3.6% in May and up from last year’s unemployment rate of 4.2% in June.
In terms of job growth, the Central Coast lost 900 nonfarming jobs in June, down from a net gain of 3,100 nonfarming jobs in May.
Ventura County lost the most with nonfarming jobs with a net loss of 700, including 600 in the government sector. Santa Barbara County lost 300 nonfarming jobs while San Luis Obispo County had a net gain of 100 jobs.
As for the state, California’s unemployment rate also jumped up to 5.4% in the month of June after sitting at 5.3% in May, April and March.
California has gained three million jobs since April 2020, an average of 49,860 per month. Although the State did post a month-over loss of 6,100 jobs for June 2025, California has a net gain of 101,100 nonfarm jobs since June 2024.
Four of California’s 11 industry sectors gained jobs in June, with Private Education and Health Services (+9,900) posting a gain for the 41st consecutive month. The largest gains were in Health Care and Social Assistance (+2,700). This includes jobs in continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities, and nursing and residential care facilities, partly attributed to California’s aging population.
Source: California Employment Development Department
4.8% – The unemployment rate along the Central Coast in June
-900 – Net loss of nonfarming jobs along the Central Coast in June
5.4% – The unemployment rate for California in June
