Central Coast unemployment dips back below 5% in February
In an effort to catch up on previous reports, the California Employment Development Department has released unemployment numbers for February.
Announced April 17, the unemployment rate for the Central Coast saw a shift in February, dropping from a 5.03% unemployment rate in January to a 4.8% in the most rate in the most recent report.
All three counties saw their unemployment rate decrease, including Santa Barbara County, which had the highest unemployment rate of the region with a 5.2.% in February, down from 5.5% in January.
Ventura County, which had a 5% unemployment rate in January, saw its unemployment rate drop to 4.8% in February.
Finally, San Luis Obispo County’s unemployment rate was at 4.6% in January, but decreased to 4.4% in February.
The biggest difference in the latest unemployment rate was in nonfarming job growth, which saw the Central Coast with a net gain of 2,100 just one month after it was reported that the region had a net loss of 9,900 nonfarming jobs.
San Luis Obispo County saw the biggest shift with a net gain of 1,100 nonfarming jobs, including 700 in the government sector and 600 in the private education sector. Santa Barbara County and Ventura County contributed net gains of 700 and 300, respectively.
As for the state, California’s unemployment rate stayed the same, sitting at 5.4% in February.
The state did see a net loss of 19,900 nonfarming jobs, the biggest drop since September 2025.
Four of California’s 11 industry sectors gained jobs in February, with Government (+5,800) showing the biggest gains as hiring increased in Local Government Educational Services as well as with Federal Government (excluding Department of Defense), which moved against the recent trend of declines.
Source: California Employment Development Department
4.8% — the unemployment rate for the Central Coast in February 2026
5.4% — the unemployment rate for California in February 2026
+2,100 — the net gain of nonfarming jobs along the Central Coast in February 2026
