Santa Cruz-Watsonville, California Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Santa Cruz rose 0.1 percentage points in February 2019 to 4.7%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.5 percentage points higher than the California rate. The unemployment rate in Santa Cruz peaked in November 2010 at 13.8% and is now 9.1 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 4.3% in January 2018, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.4 percentage points. You can also compare Santa Cruz unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	February 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.8%	-0.2	-0.3
California	4.2%	0.0	-0.1
Santa Cruz	4.7%	+0.1	+0.2

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with February 2019 data as March 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 November 2010 at 19,774. There are now 12,962 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 6,138 in January 2018, the number of unemployed has now grown by 674. Santa Cruz employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Santa Cruz, California) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	February 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
Santa Cruz	6,812	+91	+314

Number of Unemployed Persons

Santa Cruz, California Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	California Unemployment Rate	Santa Cruz Unemployment Rate	Santa Cruz Unemployed
March 2019	3.8%	4.3%	—	—
February 2019	3.8%	4.2%	4.7%	6,812
January 2019	4.0%	4.2%	4.6%	6,721
December 2018	3.9%	4.1%	4.6%	6,700
November 2018	3.7%	4.1%	4.6%	6,778
October 2018	3.8%	4.1%	4.9%	7,216
September 2018	3.7%	4.1%	5.0%	7,228
August 2018	3.8%	4.1%	4.9%	7,056
July 2018	3.9%	4.1%	5.0%	7,162
June 2018	4.0%	4.2%	5.3%	7,593
May 2018	3.8%	4.2%	5.0%	7,263
April 2018	3.9%	4.3%	4.7%	6,760