The Central and South Coasts are seeing the impacts of the latest COVID-19 related shutdowns, with a spike in unemployment numbers. After several months of improvement, the jobless numbers increased throughout the region in December.
Unemployment in Ventura County went from 6.3% in November to 7.5% in December. Santa Barbara climbed from 5.8% to 7.6%. And, San Luis Obispo County went from a 5.5% unemployment rate in November to 6.7% last month.
The statewide number also showed a substantial bump up, going from an 8.1% jobless rate in November to an even 9% in December.
The news comes as the state’s Employment Development Department continues to grapple with a huge backlog of unemployment claims, as well as ongoing concerns about unemployment fraud.