Unemployment up on Central Coast, but state average is higher

Posted: Mar 12, 2010 7:03 PM by Courtney Meznarich
Updated: Mar 12, 2010 7:03 PM

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Though unemployment is up on the Central Coast, it's still below the state average.

The latest state figures show unemployment in San Luis Obispo County rose just less than one percent from December to January. It now stands at 10.6%.

Santa Barbara County also saw a jump of about one percent, to a rate of 10.4%. Statewide, the rate is 13.2%.

Michael Manchak of the Economic Vitality Corporation credits the government sector for the relatively low rate, but says it's a mixed blessing. "It provides a lot of stable employment, albeit there's not as much growth in those sectors of public employment, once the economy is in trouble."

Manchak says focusing on the private sector will create more jobs as the public sector faces increasingly tough times.

Topics: unemployment, central coast, jobs, rate, KSBY News

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