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Edhat asked our readers to contribute their input about the state of the current job market. Here is what they had to say. (10/25/09)

Just the Facts

* As of September 2009, Santa Barbara County's current unemployment rate is 8.5 percent, the highest it has been since 1993. (The figure is not adjusted for seasonal employment.) The statewide unemployment rate is 12 percent, and the national unemployment rate is 9.5 percent. (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

*In August 2009, the unemployment rate was 8.6 percent. (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

*In September 2008, the unemployment rate was 5.5 percent. (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

*The industries with the largest job losses between September 2008 and September 2009 were construction, trade/transportation/utilities, professional and business services, financial services, leisure and hospitality, and farming. (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

*For the month of September 2009, Santa Barbara County's workforce included 221,600 people, of which 202,700 were employed. 18,800 were not employed. (Source: Employment Development Department)

*The professions with the biggest job growth recently are personal and home care aides, network systems and data communications analysts, service station attendants, computer software engineers, and chemists. (Source: Employment Development Department)

*The single largest area of employment locally is service-providing jobs, which account for 145,400 of the employed pool. (Source: Employment Development Department)

*The highest wage earners in Santa Barbara/Goleta/Santa Maria are chief executives (hourly mean rate of $78.54), general and family practitioners ($77.38), dentists ($76.16), lawyers ($73.24) and natural science managers ($72.70). The hourly mean wages are for the first quarter of 2009. (Source: Employment Development Department)

*Projected growth in the Santa Barbara County job market by the year 2016 is to a work force of 225,000 employees. Of those, the expectation is that 15,800 will be self-employed. (There were 15,200 self-employed Santa Barbara County workers in 2006.)
(Source: Employment Development Department)

*The two largest areas (percentage-wise) of job growth over the next 7 years are expected to be retail clothing sales and professional, scientific and technical services, according to projections. (Source: America's Labor Market Information System Employer Database)

*Santa Barbara County's largest employers are:

. UCSB (5,000 to 9999 employees)
. Santa Barbara County (3900 employees)
. Chumash Casino/Tribal Gaming Committee (1,000-4999 employees),
. Cottage Health System/Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital (1,000 to 4999 employees)
. Marian Medical Center (1,000 to 4999 employees)
. Mission Linen Supply (1,000 to 4999 employees)
. Santa Barbara City College (1,000 to 4999 employees)
. The Bacara (500-999 employees)
. Bargain Network (500-999 employees)
. Devereux Foundation (500-999 employees)
. Citrix Online (500-999 employees)
. Den-Mat Holdings (500-999 employees)
. Four Seasons Biltmore (500-999 employees)
. Jordanos (500-999 employees)
. Lompoc Hospital (500-999 employees)
. Manzanita Berry Farms (500-999 employees)
. Betteravia Farms (250-499 employees)
. Byrd Harvest (250-499 employees)
. C & D Zodiac (aerospace) (250-499 employees)
. Fess Parker's Doubletree (250-499 employees)
. Montecito FM (250-499 employees)
. Texiera Farms (250-499 employees)
(Source: America's Labor Market Information System Employer Database)

Local links

Local area profile from the EDD

Current month local labor force info

List of largest county employers

County document about unemployment rates and demand for public assistance

State and national links

EDD release about September statewide unemployment

Unemployment drives state foreclosure rate up

SF Chronicle story about state unemployment rate holding steady at 12.2 percent

Feds ask if unemployment benefits are delayed by state worker furloughs

Nationwide, jobless claims begin to slow down

Voice of America says unemployment rate will go higher in the next few months

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