Department of Numbers

Santa Cruz-Watsonville, California Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Santa Cruz rose 0.2 percentage points in May 2023 to 5.4%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.9 percentage points higher than the California rate. The unemployment rate in Santa Cruz peaked in April 2020 at 17.3% and is now 11.9 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 4.6% in April 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.8 percentage points. You can also compare Santa Cruz unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% +0.3 +0.1
California 4.5% 0.0 +0.5
Santa Cruz 5.4% +0.2 +0.8
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with May 2023 data as June metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Santa Cruz, California, National

Santa Cruz, California monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Santa Cruz, California Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Santa Cruz peaked in April 2020 at 23,150. There are now 15,811 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 6,100 in May 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,239. Santa Cruz employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Santa Cruz, California) is also available.

Unemployed Persons May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Santa Cruz 7,339 +347 +1,239

Number of Unemployed Persons

Santa Cruz, California Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
California
Unemployment Rate
Santa Cruz
Unemployment Rate
Santa Cruz
Unemployed
June
2023
3.6%
May
2023
3.7% 4.5% 5.4% 7,339
April
2023
3.4% 4.5% 5.2% 6,992
March
2023
3.5% 4.4% 5.0% 6,830
February
2023
3.6% 4.4% 4.9% 6,619
January
2023
3.4% 4.2% 4.8% 6,484
December
2022
3.5% 4.1% 4.8% 6,480
November
2022
3.6% 4.1% 4.8% 6,497
October
2022
3.7% 4.1% 4.8% 6,503
September
2022
3.5% 4.0% 4.8% 6,436
August
2022
3.7% 3.8% 4.7% 6,327
July
2022
3.5% 3.8% 4.6% 6,204

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.