By Jorge Mercado Sunday, April 5th, 2026

After a few months of delays, the California Employment Development Department has released unemployment numbers for the month of January.

Announced April 3, the unemployment rate for the Central Coast saw a significant shift in the month of January, climbing to 5.03% compared to an unemployment rate of 4.63% in December and 4.73% in November.

All three counties saw their unemployment rate increase, including Santa Barbara County, which had the highest unemployment rate of the region with a 5.5.% in January.

Ventura County, which had a 4.7% unemployment rate in December, saw its unemployment rate climb to 5% in January.

Finally, San Luis Obispo County’s unemployment rate was at 4.3% in December, but increased to 4.6% in January.

In terms of job growth, the Central Coast did the opposite, losing 9,900 nonfarming jobs.

Ventura County saw the biggest loss, with 5,200 nonfarming job losses in January, 1,800 of which were in the trade, transportation and utilities and another 1,500 in the professional and businesses services sector. 

Santa Barbara County had 2,400 nonfarming job losses, including 1,000 in the trade, transportation and utilities sector, while San Luis Obispo County had 2,300 nonfarming job losses, including 800 in the trade, transportation and utilities sector.

As for the state, California’s unemployment rate actually saw a drop, sitting at 5.4% in January, down from 5.5% in the final month of 2025.

January’s preliminary month-over-month job gain (+93,500) was the largest since January 2024. The state’s jobs accounted for more than 58% of the nation’s newly revised gain of 160,000 jobs in January 2026.

Eight of California’s 11 industry sectors gained jobs in December, with Private Education and Health Services (+31,800) showing gains for the 27th consecutive month, driven by California’s aging population. 

Source: California Employment Development Department 

5.03% — the unemployment rate for the Central Coast in January 2026

5.4% — the unemployment rate for California in January 2026

-9,900 — the net gain of nonfarming jobs along the Central Coast in January 2026