Santa Cruz-Watsonville, California Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Santa Cruz rose 0.1 percentage points in March 2012 to 11.3%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.3 percentage points higher than the California rate. The unemployment rate in Santa Cruz peaked in February 2010 at 12.9% and is now 1.6 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 11.2% in January 2012, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Santa Cruz unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	March 2012	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	8.2%	-0.1	-0.7
California	11.0%	+0.1	-0.9
Santa Cruz	11.3%	+0.1	-1.1

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with March 2012 data as April metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Santa Cruz, California, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Santa Cruz, California Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Santa Cruz peaked in December 2010 at 19,176. There are now 1,914 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 17,025 in January 2012, the number of unemployed has now grown by 237. Santa Cruz employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Santa Cruz, California) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	March 2012	Month/Month	Year/Year
Santa Cruz	17,262	+208	-1,328

Number of Unemployed Persons

Santa Cruz, California Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	California Unemployment Rate	Santa Cruz Unemployment Rate	Santa Cruz Unemployed
April 2012	8.1%	10.9%	—	—
March 2012	8.2%	11.0%	11.3%	17,262
February 2012	8.3%	10.9%	11.2%	17,054
January 2012	8.3%	10.9%	11.2%	17,025
December 2011	8.5%	11.2%	11.3%	17,214
November 2011	8.7%	11.3%	11.6%	17,579
October 2011	8.9%	11.5%	11.9%	18,061
September 2011	9.0%	11.7%	12.1%	18,176
August 2011	9.1%	11.9%	12.4%	18,363
July 2011	9.1%	11.9%	12.5%	18,467
June 2011	9.1%	11.9%	12.5%	18,440
May 2011	9.0%	11.9%	12.3%	18,333
April 2011	9.0%	11.8%	12.4%	18,518