Jobless rates fall on Central Coast

Jobless rates fall on Central Coast

Unemployment rates in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties decreased in September and remain among the 10 lowest in California, according to the latest state data.

In Santa Barbara County, the rate was 8.6 percent, down from 8.8 percent in August, and down from 9.1 percent in September a year ago.

Despite the drop from August to September, the county’s rate fell from third-lowest among the state’s 58 counties to fifth.

For San Luis Obispo County, unemployment was at 9.3 percent —down from 9.9 percent in August and from 10 percent a year earlier.

San Luis Obispo County’s rate was eighth-lowest among California counties, one spot down from the previous month.

By comparison, California’s unemployment rate was 11.9 percent in September and the national rate was 9.1 percent.

September’s preliminary unemployment figures from the Labor Market Information Division of the California Employment Development Department (EDD) were released Friday.

After steady job growth earlier in the year, Santa Barbara County has lost jobs in four of the past five months, according to Mark Schniepp, director of the Goleta-based California Economic Forecast Project.

Through the first nine months of 2011, 900 positions have been eliminated, he said.

Total unadjusted nonfarm employment in the county fell by 1,500 workers from August to September, according to the EDD report. The private sector accounted for the entire drop, down by 1,900 positions. Private sector gains, which were strong for the most of the 2011, are now reversing, Schniepp said. However, compared to last September, private sector employment is 600 jobs higher.

“The September 2011 employment report paints a bleak picture of Santa Barbara County labor markets. Total seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment has reached a new low.

“The sectors that were previously creating jobs and expected to lead the recovery have reversed course, and now have the most cuts. The abrupt and dramatic turnaround is suspicious, however, and the scale of job loss is likely to be revised lower in future reports,”he said.

The California Economic Forecast did not prepare a similar report for San Luis Obispo County.

In San Luis Obispo County, total unadjusted nonfarm employment increased by 1,100 workers from August to September.

Among Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo county cities, jobless rates also went lower, comparing month to month preliminary numbers.

Lompoc continues to have the highest unemployment at 15 percent, down from 15.3 percent, followed by Guadalupe at 14.5 percent, down from 14.9 percent in August.

Santa Maria, the county’s biggest city, comes in at 13.3 percent— it was 13.6 a month earlier.

Unemployment rates in the Santa Ynez Valley’s two incorporated cities were among the county’s lowest, with Buellton at 6.2 percent, down from 6.3 percent, and Solvang at 3.2 percent, down from 3.3 percent.

Among unincorporated northern Santa Barbara County areas, Orcutt posted a 9.6-percent rate, with Los Alamos at 12.3 percent, Santa Ynez at 4.3 percent and Vandenberg Village at 7.3 percent.

In southern San Luis Obispo County, Oceano reported 17.3-percent unemployment, still the worst in the county but down from 17.9 percent a month earlier, with Nipomo at 12.4 percent, Pismo Beach and Arroyo Grande both at 9.6 percent, and Grover Beach at 9.2 percent.