County Unemployment Numbers for September at 9.0%

Santa Barbara County’s unemployment numbers for September 2010 showed a very small increase from last month, according to the monthly information released today by the state Employment Development Department. Overall, Santa Barbara County logged an unadjusted (not seasonally adjusted) unemployment rate of 9.0 percent in September 2010, up 0.1 percent from the revised, 8.9 percent rate recorded in August 2010, the EDD announced October 22.

This compares to the current unadjusted unemployment rate statewide of 12.2 percent for California and 9.2 percent for the nation, the EDD reported. California’s seasonally adjusted rate for September 2010 was reported today by the EDD to be 12.4 percent. In August 2010, the statewide unemployment rate was 12.4 percent and nationally at 9.5 percent. One year ago, the rate was listed at 12.0 percent for California for September 2009 and Santa Barbara County’s rate last year in 2009 at this time was 8.6 percent, the EDD said.

“We would prefer to see unemployment rates continue to drop similar to last month, but economists tell us it is not unusual to see these so-called saw-toothed fluctuations for economic indicators during the early stages of a slow recovery,” said Santa Barbara County Workforce Investment Board Executive Director Raymond L. McDonald said.

“We still have a long way to go, but the Workforce Investment Board will continue its important mission to help prepare the local workforce with new skills training and education so that they can take advantage opportunities with emerging industries.”

The September 2010 report shows Santa Barbara County currently has about 20,000 unemployed workers. The County’s overall 9.0 percent unemployment rate reflected a total labor force for September of about 221,800 people, with 201,700 employed and 20,000 unemployed. In August 2010, the 8.9 percent unemployment rate for the County’s reflected an estimated total labor force of about 224,000 people, with 204,100 employed and 19,900 unemployed, according to the EDD statistics.

For September 2010, Santa Barbara County continues to have one of the lowest unemployment rates among California’s 58 counties and continues to rank second lowest in the state behind Marin County’s 8.4-percent rate. These county ranking ratios have remained fairly consistent throughout much of the year.

Locally, the highest unemployment rates for Santa Barbara County’s cities continues to be Lompoc at 15.8 percent; Guadalupe at 15.3 percent, and Santa Maria at 14.0 percent. The cities with the lowest rates for September were Solvang at 3.4 percent; Carpinteria and Goleta both at 4.5 percent; Santa Barbara at 6.4 percent and Buellton was shown with rate of 6.6 percent.

The EDD showed double-digit unemployment rates for the County’s Statistical Census Areas in September 2010 included Vandenberg Air Force Base at 14.3 percent; Los Alamos at 13.0 percent; Isla Vista at 12.2 percent; Mission Hills at 10.8 percent and Orcutt at 10.1 percent.

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The Workforce Investment Board, is dedicated to serving the workforce needs of businesses, adults, laid-off workers and youth throughout Santa Barbara County. The WIB is a public/private partnership created by the Federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and is staffed by the County of Santa Barbara.

Job seekers and employers can take advantage of free services at two Workforce Resource Centers (“One-Stops”) to help find work or new employees. Programs include employment services for job seekers, the latest labor market information and regional workforce research for businesses, as well as training that specialize in helping people gain the skills and confidence necessary to find and obtain a job. The One-Stop Shops are at 1410 S. Broadway in Santa Maria, (805) 614-1550, and 130 E. Ortega Street in Santa Barbara, (805) 568-1296. More nformation is available online.