Unemployment Rate Drops in Santa Cruz, Still High in Watsonville

The unemployment rate in Santa Cruz County remained in double-digits and nearly one in four Watsonville residents in the labor force were without work in February, according to data released Friday by the state Employment Development Department.

Still, the county's job outlook improved: the 11.8 percent unemployment rate for February 2013 was down from a revised 12.5 percent in January 2013, and below the year-ago estimate of 14.0 percent.

Countywide, 18,300 adults were out of work in February. The Santa Cruz County labor force was tallied at 154,400.

The unemployment rate was just below 10 percent in the city of Santa Cruz. In Watsonville, it topped 24 percent. Scotts Valley's unemployment rate was the lowest of any city in the county, at 5.7 percent.

Check out the PDF above for more details about local job trends.

Seasonal employment in agriculture comprises a large portion of the economy in Watsonville, meaning employment rates in South County should improve as farm work picks up this spring.

In Santa Cruz, Dominican Hospital announced layoffs earlier this month. Eighty jobs were cut, but those losses have yet to be figured into the state unemployment data.

Statewide, California’s unemployment rate decreased to 9.6 percent in February. That's down 0.2 percent from January. The year-over-year change (February 2012 to February 2013) shows an increase of 293,800 jobs, or up 2.1 percent.

The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,500 California households.

How is the job market in Santa Cruz County? Were you looking for work in February? Did you find a job? Tell us in the comment section below.