How many jobs were lost in last month?

Updated May. 22, 2026Refreshed annually
It lost 200 jobs in April 2026. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ state and local employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA Metro Area has averaged about 97 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.

-200

month to month change in number of jobs (April 2026)
In the previous employment report on the Santa Cruz, CA area, there was a net gain of zero in February 2026. The Santa Cruz, CA area job loss of 200 in April 2026 was equal to the 200 jobs lost in March 2026.
During the latest five-year period (May 2021 to April 2026), the Santa Cruz, CA area gained jobs in 27 out of 60 months. April 2026 had the ninth-highest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in July 2021 (+2,300) while job growth was weakest in February 2024 (-700).

The Santa Cruz, CA area lost 200 jobs in April 2026.

Monthly change in nonfarm employment in the Santa Cruz, CA area

How does the Santa Cruz, CA area job growth in 2025 compare to previous years?

In 2026, the Santa Cruz, CA area has lost an average of 50 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2025 average monthly increase of 58, and the lowest since 2020. The 2026 average ranks as the fifth-worst in job growth since 2006.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 5,300 every month in 2009 to a gain of 5,800 every month in 2012.

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In 2025, the Santa Cruz, CA area gained an average of 58 jobs every month.

Average monthly change in the number of jobs in the Santa Cruz, CA area, seasonally adjusted

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Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.