Business & Tech
Unemployment Rate Drops under 10 Percent Countywide
Joblessness still remains a huge issue in Watsonville, but has come down significantly elsewhere.
Reporting by Jennifer Squires:
The unemployment rate plummeted in Santa Cruz County last month, led by a surge in seasonal farm labor and toursim-related jobs.
The jobless rate in Santa Cruz County decreased from 11.4 percent in March to 9.9 percent in April, marking the first time the unemployment rate has been under 10 percent since last November. A year ago, the rate was 12.2 percent, according to the state Economic Development Department.
The unemployment rate for the state also fell from 9.4 percent in March to 8.5 in April.
Cities throughout Santa Cruz County experienced similar dips in their unemployment rate.
In Santa Cruz, the jobless rate fell to 8.2 percent. It was 9.5 percent in March.
Nearby, the unemployment rate decreased to 7.3 percent in Soquel, 5.5 percent in Capitola, 3.8 percent in Aptos and 4.7 percent in Scotts Valley.
In South County, unemployment declined slightly but remained high. The jobless rate in Watsonville was 20.8 percent in April. It was 17.8 percent in Freedom.
Overall, Santa Cruz County added 1,600 jobs in April for a total labor force of 97,000. That jobs figure is 4,200 jobs higher than April 2012.
The farming sector in Santa Cruz County gained 1,200 jobs in April while the leisure and hospitality industry added 200 jobs.
But positions were lost in the government sector, which shed 100 jobs in April.
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