Department of Numbers

San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, California Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for San Luis Obispo rose 0.2 percentage points in January 2023 to 2.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.4 percentage points lower than the California rate. The unemployment rate in San Luis Obispo peaked in April 2020 at 15.1% and is now 12.3 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.5% in July 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.3 percentage points. You can also compare San Luis Obispo unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.4% -0.1 -0.6
California 4.2% +0.1 -1.0
San Luis Obispo 2.8% +0.2 -1.0
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with January 2023 data as February metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: San Luis Obispo, California, National

San Luis Obispo, California monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

San Luis Obispo, California Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in San Luis Obispo peaked in April 2020 at 19,440. There are now 15,645 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 3,386 in September 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 409. San Luis Obispo employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in San Luis Obispo, California) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
San Luis Obispo 3,795 +198 -1,436

Number of Unemployed Persons

San Luis Obispo, California Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
California
Unemployment Rate
San Luis Obispo
Unemployment Rate
San Luis Obispo
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 4.2% 2.8% 3,795
December
2022
3.5% 4.1% 2.6% 3,597
November
2022
3.6% 4.1% 2.6% 3,551
October
2022
3.7% 4.1% 2.5% 3,432
September
2022
3.5% 4.0% 2.5% 3,386
August
2022
3.7% 3.8% 2.5% 3,390
July
2022
3.5% 3.8% 2.5% 3,473
June
2022
3.6% 3.9% 2.7% 3,740
May
2022
3.6% 4.0% 2.9% 3,989
April
2022
3.6% 4.1% 3.1% 4,237
March
2022
3.6% 4.4% 3.3% 4,522

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.