Department of Numbers

Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, California Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Santa Maria rose 0.1 percentage points in January 2023 to 3.2%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.0 percentage points lower than the California rate. The unemployment rate in Santa Maria peaked in April 2020 at 14.1% and is now 10.9 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.0% in July 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.2 percentage points. You can also compare Santa Maria 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
Santa Maria 3.2% +0.1 -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: Santa Maria, California, National

Santa Maria, California monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Santa Maria, California Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Santa Maria peaked in April 2020 at 29,993. There are now 22,835 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 6,582 in July 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 576. Santa Maria employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Santa Maria, California) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Santa Maria 7,158 +225 -2,079

Number of Unemployed Persons

Santa Maria, California Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
California
Unemployment Rate
Santa Maria
Unemployment Rate
Santa Maria
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 4.2% 3.2% 7,158
December
2022
3.5% 4.1% 3.1% 6,933
November
2022
3.6% 4.1% 3.1% 6,884
October
2022
3.7% 4.1% 3.0% 6,664
September
2022
3.5% 4.0% 3.0% 6,590
August
2022
3.7% 3.8% 3.0% 6,587
July
2022
3.5% 3.8% 3.0% 6,582
June
2022
3.6% 3.9% 3.1% 6,824
May
2022
3.6% 4.0% 3.2% 7,127
April
2022
3.6% 4.1% 3.4% 7,476
March
2022
3.6% 4.4% 3.6% 7,977

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.