By Staff Report Tuesday, August 19th, 2025

The unemployment rate along the Central Coast continued trending upward in the month of July, as each of the tri-counties saw an uptick, according to the latest data provided by the California Employment Development Department.

Announced Aug. 15, the unemployment rate for the Central Coast was at 5.2% for the month of July, up from an unemployment rate of 4.83% in June and up from a jobless rate of 4.56% in July 2024.

Last year’s June and July unemployment rates were significantly higher than the rest of the year. 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 5% in July, up from 4.7% in June and also above last year’s July unemployment rate of 4.5%.

Ventura County, which sported a 5% unemployment rate in June, was at a 5.4% unemployment rate in July. The unemployment rate in July of last year was 5%.

Finally, San Luis Obispo County’s unemployment rate was at 5.2% in July, up from 4.8% in June and up from last year’s unemployment rate of 4.5% in June.

In terms of job growth, the Central Coast went backwards, with a net loss of 6,700 jobs in the month of July, much higher than last year’s net loss of 5,700 jobs.

Ventura County lost the most with nonfarming jobs, with a net loss of 3,400, including 3,600 in the government sector. Santa Barbara County lost 1,900 nonfarming jobs while San Luis Obispo County had a net loss of 1,400 jobs. Both counties had a loss of 3,800 government jobs.

As for the state, California’s unemployment rate also jumped up to 5.5% in the month of July, up from 5.4% in June and after sitting at 5.3% in May, April and March.

Six of California’s 11 industry sectors gained jobs in July, with Private Education and Health Services (+23,100) having the largest gains in Health Care and Social Assistance (+23,400) and Ambulatory Health Care services (+12,600). These gains are partly due to California’s aging population.

In a twist from the Central Coast, Government jobs (+7,200) also posted a month-over-month job gain, with the largest increase coming from Local Government (+7,200). State Government (+400) also increased, while Federal Government (-400) lost jobs in July.

Source: California Employment Development Department 

5.2% – The unemployment rate along the Central Coast in July 

-6,700 – Net loss of nonfarming jobs along the Central Coast in July

5.5% – The unemployment rate for California in July