Ventura County unemployment rate climbs to 5% - Ventura County Star

The unemployment rate in Ventura County hit 5% in August, its highest point since January but still lower than it was a year ago and lower than the statewide unemployment rate. California's unemployment rate in August was 5.1%, the same rate as the month before and down from 5.5% in August 2025, according to the most recent data released by the California Employment Development Department. The national unemployment rate in August was 4.3%. Both California and Ventura County have consistently had higher unemployment rates than the nation as whole since early in the COVID-19 pandemic. In Ventura County , the rate of 5% in August was up from 4.7% in July but down from 5.3% in August 2025.