Santa Cruz County Sees 5% Decline In Overall Labor Market: Report

SANTA CRUZ, CA — The Great Resignation has affected Santa Cruz County, a new report from the Santa Cruz County Workforce Development Board has found.

The 2022 State of the Workforce report found that 6,400 local employees left the county’s labor market during the pandemic, which represents a 5 percent decline in overall labor market participation. The report found that while low-wage industries were particularly impacted, the county has seen an increase in the proportion of more high-paying jobs. Many health care workers have also left their job, citing burnout and pandemic stress.

The agricultural industry, once a mainstay of the county economy, continues to shrink. The report found that peak farm employment was 32 percent higher in June 2010 than in June 2021.

The report also found that workers in all fields spent 27 percent less time at the workplace due to the rapid expansion of remote work during the pandemic.

The report made several recommendations, including:

• Initiatives to increase labor force participation.
• Initiatives to attract and retain health care and hospitality industries.
• Employment and technology education for agricultural workers.
• Greater education and workforce development efforts for youth in South Santa Cruz County.
• More affordable housing located between work and transit hubs.

See here for the full 2022 Santa Cruz County State of the Workforce report.