Community Corner
Jobs: 1 in 5 Watsonville Adults Are Without Work
Santa Cruz County's unemployment rate dropped in May, but Watsonville's remained high.
State and county jobless rates declined slightly in May, according to a report released on June 15 by state employment officials.
The state's unemployment rate in May was 10.8 percent according to the California Employment Development Department, down slightly from April's 10.9 percent rate.
Santa Cruz County's unemployment rate was at 10.4 percent in May, down from 11.4 in April, and 12.4 in May 2011.
Find out what's happening in Watsonvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Watsonville had the highest number of unemployed individuals at 21.9 percent, nearly double that of Boulder Creek, the second-highest unemployment rate.
Jobs in Watsonville fluctuate with the seasons, as many are agriculture-based. City Council Member Daniel Dodge would like to take some of that ag land out of production, annex into city limits and zone it for commerical use. , such as Costco, to create more steady jobs in the city. Dodge and his supporters are circulating a petition to try to get the initative on the November ballot.
Find out what's happening in Watsonvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Unemployment figures in other Santa Cruz County cities are:
City Unemployment Rate Aptos 4.1 percent Ben Lomond 4.3 percent Boulder Creek 12 percent Capitola 5.9 percent Santa Cruz 8.7 percent Scotts Valley 5 percent Soquel 7.9 percent Watsonville 21.9 percentGet more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
