Department of Numbers

Santa Cruz-Watsonville, California Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Santa Cruz fell 0.0 percentage points in September 2023 to 5.7%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.0 percentage points higher than the California rate. The unemployment rate in Santa Cruz peaked in April 2020 at 17.3% and is now 11.6 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 4.6% in April 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 1.1 percentage points. You can also compare Santa Cruz unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.8% 0.0 +0.3
California 4.7% +0.1 +0.7
Santa Cruz 5.7% 0.0 +0.9
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with September 2023 data as October 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 15,476 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 1,574. Santa Cruz employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Santa Cruz, California) is also available.

Unemployed Persons September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Santa Cruz 7,674 +70 +1,238

Number of Unemployed Persons

Santa Cruz, California Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
California
Unemployment Rate
Santa Cruz
Unemployment Rate
Santa Cruz
Unemployed
October
2023
3.9% 4.8%
September
2023
3.8% 4.7% 5.7% 7,674
August
2023
3.8% 4.6% 5.7% 7,604
July
2023
3.5% 4.6% 5.6% 7,512
June
2023
3.6% 4.6% 5.6% 7,491
May
2023
3.7% 4.5% 5.4% 7,350
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

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.