The unemployment picture on the Central and South Coasts is continuing to show some improvement, but is still way above pre-COVID levels.
State figures show that in Ventura County, the jobless rate went from 8.3% in September to 7.1% in October. Santa Barbara County shaved a full percent off its unemployment rate, moving from 7.3% in September to 6.3% in October.
And, San Luis Obispo trimmed 1.2% in its latest total. The county went from a 7.2% jobless rate in September to an even 6% in October.
The state as a whole showed improvement. California's 11.1% unemployment rate in September plunged 1.8%, to 9.3% in October. But, compare that to October 2019, when the state’s jobless rate was just 3.9%
