October 20,2014
San Luis Obispo County’s jobless rate continues to fall – now a full two percentage points below where it was two years ago. In September 2014 the unemployment rate fell to 5.4% compared to 6.4% a year earlier and 7.4% in September 2012.
EDD numbers show some 1500 more jobs in the local economy than a year earlier led by 700 more leisure and hospitality jobs year over year – up 700.
Despite the drought farm jobs numbered 4600 in September 2104 the same number as September 2013.
At 5.4% the jobless rate is lowest since May 2008 when it was 5.1%. After that and since then – jobless numbers have been higher as the great recession kicked in. In May 2008 there were some 7100 unemployed in the county. But over the next few years the number of jobless here steadily climbed to over 14,000. By Sept of 2014 the number of jobless is down again to 7500 as the recovery has gained steam.
As for farm jobs in September of the years of 2011 and 2012 the county showed 6200 farm jobs which for the past two years in Sept is down to 4600.