County Gains 3,100 Jobs in March
March’s initial unemployment numbers look good, as Santa Barbara County gained 3,100 jobs and did not lose jobs in any single sector, according to the state Employment Development Department. The unemployment rate of 7.2 percent dipped half a point from February’s revised rate of 7.7 percent. Since last March, the county has added 7,400 jobs, with the professional and business services sector adding 1,800 positions. Farm jobs are up by 2,700 since last year at the same time. California’s March unemployment rate was 9.4 percent.