Business & Tech

Santa Cruz County Jobless Rate Dips Below 8 Percent

Buoyed by job growth in the agriculture sector, as well as other industries, the Santa Cruz County unemployment rate fell almost two full percentage points from April to May. 

The county's jobless rate was 7.9 percent in May, the lowest it's been in more than two years, according to figures released by the state Employment Development Department on Friday. 

The county's unemployment rate was 9.8 percent in April and 10.8 percent in May 2012.

Capitola reported an unemployment rate of 4.4 percent in May and Soquel's was 6 percent, both lower than the county average. Jobless rates remained in the double-digits in South County, where seasonal agriculture work is prevalent.

The total number of jobs in Santa Cruz County climbed 5,900 positions from April to May, reaching 103,100 jobs in the county.

  • Farms hired 3,300 employees in May and are employing 500 more workers this spring than in 2012.
  • Trade, transportation, and utilities climbed by 600 jobs.
  • Leisure and hospitality also added 600 jobs.
  • Education and health services gained 500 jobs.
  • Professional and business services rose by 400 jobs.
  • Financial activities added 200 jobs
  • Government saw a net gain of 300 jobs.
The Santa Cruz County unemployment rate is lower than the state's, which declined to 8.6 percent in May. The national unemployment rate saw a slight uptick from April to May, rising to 7.6 percent.


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