Santa Maria’s job market started 2024 with a stable outlook, exhibiting modest job growth amidst national economic uncertainties and rising minimum wage concerns. While the January report indicates a slower pace compared to the previous year, it suggests potential for stability and cautious optimism in the year ahead.
Highlights:
- Job growth: Santa Maria added 0.2% new jobs compared to December 2023, translating to roughly 80 positions.
- Key sectors: Leisure & Hospitality and Education & Health Services led the growth, reflecting tourism’s importance and an aging population’s healthcare needs.
- Challenges: Retail Trade and Information sectors witnessed slight declines.
What Industries and Occupations Grew:
- Leisure & Hospitality: Food Preparation & Serving Related Workers, Lodging & Accommodation Workers, and Travel & Tourism Specialists saw job gains, driven by the upcoming tourist season.
- Education & Health Services: Registered Nurses, Nursing Assistants, and Healthcare Support Occupations experienced growth, supported by the aging population’s healthcare demands.
- Professional & Business Services: Management Analysts, Marketing Specialists, and Computer Systems Analysts saw modest increases, indicating continued demand for skilled professionals.
What Industries and Occupations Shrank:
- Retail Trade: This sector witnessed a minor decline (-0.2%), potentially due to seasonal adjustments and online shopping trends.
- Financial Activities: The Financial Activities sector saw a slight decrease (-0.1%), primarily reflecting national trends and automation in certain areas.
- Information: This sector experienced a minor decline (-0.1%), with occupations like Computer Programmers and Database Administrators seeing minor reductions.
Compare to Same Month Last Year:
- Compared to January 2023, Santa Maria’s overall job growth was slightly slower in January 2024.
- However, key sectors like Leisure & Hospitality and Education & Health Services saw stronger growth in January 2024 compared to the previous year.
Compare to Previous Month:
- Santa Maria added new jobs in January 2024 compared to December 2023, indicating a positive trend within the month.
Future Outlook:
The Santa Maria job market is expected to remain stable in the coming months, with potential for moderate growth in key sectors like Leisure & Hospitality and Education & Health Services. However, national economic uncertainties and rising minimum wage concerns could present challenges.
10 Growing Occupations:
- Registered Nurses
- Nursing Assistants
- Home Health Aides
- Personal Care Aides
- Marketing Specialists
- Management Analysts
- Computer Systems Analysts
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers
- Lodging and Accommodation Workers
- Travel and Tourism Specialists
10 Companies Hiring Now:
- Marian Regional Medical Center
- Vons Companies, Inc.
- Allan Hancock College
- Santa Maria Unified School District
- City of Santa Maria
- Dignity Health – Central Coast
- Rabobank
- Boeing
- Costco Wholesale
- Walmart
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