Digital News Report- Unemployment in Santa Cruz County has risen from 12.6% to 13.1% in the past year, which is far higher than the statewide 10.9% and the national rate of 8.9%. Watsonville currently tops the chart in the county at 26.6%, which is about 6,400 individuals without a job.
The Sacramento Bee has an interactive map to help those who are looking for a job determine how their county fairs against the others in the state. Colusa County has been hit hardest in the state, with a 26,6% unemployment rate, whereas Marin County seems to have a low 6.8%.
Their maps also include the option of going back in time to January of 2008 and seeing the unemployment numbers change over the course of the past year. The map starts out mostly green, which indicates low unemployment numbers, but is soon swamped with pinks, reds, and purples, which are progressively higher percentages. By January of 2009, most of the map is red and purple.
The high unemployment rate across the state marks the worst numbers in over 26 years. Over 116,000 jobs have been lost in the state, with construction being hit the hardest at 30,900 jobs lost. Every aspect of the economy has been hit including government, retail, hospitality, real estate, and employment services among others. The film and television industry has grown, however, as motion picture and video production added 11,700 workers in February alone.
Due to the high unemployment rates, more than 400 people have been hired to help staff Employment Development Department (EDD) and keep up with demand. Offices have also opened their call center additional hours to help accommodate those who are seeking unemployment insurance.
Despite having call centers open additional hours, EDD officials have urged people to apply online first at their website. “It is the quickest and easiest way to file a claim and the vast majority of unemployed workers should be able to utilize this option,” they stated in a press release.
EDD is now currently paying a total of $77 million a day in regular UI and federal extension benefits along with $6 million in federal stimulus payments.