What is the unemployment rate in Santa Cruz County, CA right now?
Refreshed monthly
Unemployment in Santa Cruz County, CA was at 5.1% in September 2026. That's a 0.3 percentage point decrease from a year before. The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who are actively looking for work but not currently employed. It's a common way to measure the health of the job market and economy.
In September 2026,
5.1%
of the labor force was unemployed in Santa Cruz County, CA
September 2026 had a
-0.3
percentage point change from September 2025
County-level unemployment statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not account for fluctuations due to seasonal employment patterns, such as tourism or agriculture. That means the data may show large changes month to month. It is important to view this local data with a long-term lens.
The unemployment rate in Santa Cruz County, CA was lower in September 2026 compared with September 2025.
Not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, January 2019 to September 2026
Unemployment rates differ between areas within states due to various factors. Counties with many job opportunities and different industries often have lower unemployment rates. In rural areas, or places where industries are shrinking, the rate can be higher. Seasonal work in industries like tourism or farming can lead to unemployment rising or falling. Population changes and local policies also play a role in how many people are employed.
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How does unemployment in Santa Cruz County, CA compare to other counties?
The latest county-level data from September 2026 shows that Santa Cruz County, CA's unemployment rate was ranked 38th out of 58 counties in California, from highest to lowest.
Unemployment rates in California counties ranged from 3.9% to 20.8% in September 2026.
Not seasonally adjusted
Unemployment rate, by county in California (September 2026)
| 1. | Imperial County, CA | 20.8% |
| 2. | Alpine County, CA | 10% |
| 3. | Tulare County, CA | 9.8% |
| 4. | Colusa County, CA | 8.6% |
| 5. | Kings County, CA | 8.1% |
| 6. | Merced County, CA | 8.1% |
| 7. | Kern County, CA | 7.9% |
| 8. | Fresno County, CA | 7.4% |
| 9. | Lake County, CA | 7.1% |
| 10. | Sutter County, CA | 7.1% |
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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.
