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Unemployment rates skyrocket in San Luis Obispo County

July 20, 2024

By KAREN VELIE

Unemployment numbers in San Luis Obispo County skyrocketed in June, with the number of unemployed workers jumping 35%, from 4,000 in May, 2024 to 5,400 in June, 2024, the state Employment Development Department reported Friday.

While unemployment numbers climb the size of the county workforce is falling, from 137,200 in June 2023 to 135,800 in June 2024. The county unemployment rate rose from 3% in May 2024 to 4% in June 2024.

San Luis Obispo County is ranked seventh out of 58 California counties for lower numbers of unemployed workers. SLO County’s unemployment rate is lower than the national average of 4.3% and the state’s 5.3% rate.

In California, San Mateo at 3.5% has the lowest unemployment rate and Imperial County comes in on the bottom with an unemployment rate of 16.4%.

 


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An increase of 1,400 unemployment claims in one month for SLO County is a pretty big swing. Last year there was a similar large (17%) swing from 2.9% (4,000) to 3.5% (4,800). –Data


Is there a large seasonal workforce that gets let go that month every year?


1

It’s odd that unemployment has “skyrocketted” when I keep seeing “Now Hiring”, and “Help Wanted” signs at so many businesses I see, and the job posting sites are packed with open jobs being posted. Either a lack of workers, or a lack or willing workers, because both skilled and unskilled jobs are available.


18

Businesses in our county wrap themselves up in tourism dollars and when there’s no more low hanging fruit to pick they whine like it’s not their doing. Agriculture is not events and weddings. A house in a neighborhood is not a hotel. It is no wonder the government is the largest employer in our area, they exploit tourism, then come to our wallet when it dries up.


28

Like most statistics from the government they can be manipulated to achieve the outcome desired. Here it’s in how you define being employed, how they count people who work multiple part-time jobs, how they count those who are no longer looking, or feel they dont need to look, how they define the difference between private and public sector employment, plus many more aspects.


25

What is the cause?


17

Most economists agree that 3-5% unemployment is considered full employment in real world terms. In fact, unemployment rates across the nation are the lowest they’ve been in 50 years.


-28

Not true! A simple Google search will show that during Trump era the national unemployment rate was as low as 3.5%. Currently, the Bidenomics unemployment rate is 4.1%.


-12

Unemployment dropped to as low as 3.5% under Trump. It also dropped as low as 3.1% (lowest level in over 50 years) under Biden. – Data


Those are just snapshots though, as a single month doesn’t tell the whole story. The average across their entire terms: Trump 5%, Biden 4.1% – Data


4

Another perspective, what were the Unemployment Rates handed to the recent presidents when they took office, versus when they left office:


Obama: 8.3% (start), 4.7% (end) — unemployment improved


Trump: 4.6% (start), 6.4% (end) — unemployment worsened

Biden: 6.2% (start), 4.1% (tbd) — unemployment improved


Data for reference.


3

Well, maybe true but you forgot to include a little event called Covid, the largest public health crisis since the Spanish Flu of the early 20th century. I blame NIH and Fauci for much of that.


-1

The US had one of the worst responses to COVID in the civilized world, thanks to a President who suggested drinking bleach as a solution. If you are going to hold him blameless for COVID, then you should also hold the current President blameless for the global inflation crisis.


1