How many jobs were added in Santa Maria, CA area last month?
Refreshed monthly
It gained 2,900 jobs in August 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 Maria-Santa Barbara, CA Metro Area has averaged about 122 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
+2.9K
month to month change in number of jobs (August 2026)
The Santa Maria, CA area job growth of 2,900 in August 2026 swung from a loss of 1,800 jobs in July 2026.
During the latest five-year period (September 2021 to August 2026), the Santa Maria, CA area gained jobs in 31 out of 60 months. August 2026 had the highest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in August 2026 (+2,900) while job growth was weakest in July 2026 (-1,800).
The Santa Maria, CA area gained 2,900 jobs in August 2026.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment in the Santa Maria, CA area
How has the Santa Maria, CA area's job growth changed over time?
In 2025, the Santa Maria, CA area has lost an average of 17 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 83, and the lowest since 2020. The 2025 average ranks as fourth-worst in job growth since 2007.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2009 and 2018, job growth ranged from a loss of 692,000 every month in 2009 to a gain of 683,000 every month in 2018.
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In 2025, the Santa Maria, CA area lost an average of 17 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs in the Santa Maria, 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.
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.
