Santa Cruz-Watsonville, California Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Santa Cruz fell 1.0 percentage points in May 2020 to 15.4%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.0 percentage points lower than the California rate. The unemployment rate in Santa Cruz peaked in April 2020 at 16.4% and is now 1.0 percentage points lower. You can also compare Santa Cruz unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	May 2020	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	13.3%	-1.4	+9.7
California	16.4%	0.0	+12.3
Santa Cruz	15.4%	-1.0	+10.5

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with May 2020 data as June 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 April 2020 at 22,179. There are now 2,304 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. Santa Cruz employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Santa Cruz, California) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	May 2020	Month/Month	Year/Year
Santa Cruz	19,875	-2,304	+12,927

Number of Unemployed Persons

Santa Cruz, California Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	California Unemployment Rate	Santa Cruz Unemployment Rate	Santa Cruz Unemployed
July 2020	10.2%	—	—	—
June 2020	11.1%	14.9%	—	—
May 2020	13.3%	16.4%	15.4%	19,875
April 2020	14.7%	16.4%	16.4%	22,179
March 2020	4.4%	5.5%	6.3%	8,905
February 2020	3.5%	3.9%	4.4%	6,332
January 2020	3.6%	3.9%	4.5%	6,378
December 2019	3.5%	3.9%	4.3%	6,184
November 2019	3.5%	3.9%	4.5%	6,367
October 2019	3.6%	3.9%	4.6%	6,550
September 2019	3.5%	3.9%	4.7%	6,720
August 2019	3.7%	3.9%	4.8%	6,855