Unemployment rate back on the rise on the Central Coast
After months of a descending tri-county unemployment rate, the Central Coast’s jobless rate was back on the rise in the latest report, rising to 4.3%, according to the California Employment Development Department’s latest numbers released July 17.
All three counties saw their unemployment rate increase in June.
Ventura County’s rate was 4.4%, up from 3.9% in May.
Santa Barbara County’s rate was 4.2%, up from 3.7% in May.
San Luis Obispo County’s rate was 4.3%, up from 3.6% in May.
The biggest difference in the latest unemployment rate was in nonfarming job growth, which saw the Central Coast with a net gain of 1,000 jobs, down from 2,400 nonfarming job gains in the prior month.
Ventura County gained the most, 600, followed by Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo County each adding a net gain of 200 nonfarming jobs.
California’s unemployment rate was 5.2% in June, down from a 5.3% unemployment rate in both May and April. June’s 5.2% unemployment rate is the state’s lowest since May 2024. Over the past year, California’s unemployment rate declined 0.3% while the nation’s unemployment rate increased by 0.1% since June 2025.
Although the state has recorded two straight months of small job losses, California has contributed 14.9% of the nation’s total job growth since the start of 2026. This is still well above California’s usual 11.4% monthly share of U.S. total nonfarm jobs, according to the release.
Source: California Employment Development Department
4.3% — the tri-county unemployment rate in June 2026.
5.2% — the unemployment rate for California in June 2026.
+1,000 — net gain of nonfarm jobs in all tri-county industries in June 2026.
