NAICS 51

Information in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

Metro Market Score 31.9 (Favorable), ranked #71 of 294 metros. 108 establishments, 641 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 31.9
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Favorable

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national information average.

📈Rapid Growth🌱Emerging Market

Santa Cruz-Watsonville ranks in the top quartile for information market conditions, driven by above-average employment growth. With a market score of 31.9, conditions are relatively favorable compared to most metros.

Industry Concentration
25.5
LQ: 0.33
Rank #75 of 294 metros
Wage Competitiveness
74.2
$96,590 avg wage
Growth Trend
↑ 94.6
Employment growth index
Rank #17 of 294 metros
Wage Pressure
26.7
YoY wage change index

108 Information Firms in Santa Cruz-Watsonville

108
Establishments
-1.8% YoY
641
Total Employment
+10.3% YoY
$96,590
Average Annual Wage
+10.4% YoY
0.33
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Santa Cruz-Watsonville vs California Statewide

How this metro's information market compares to California overall. The state ranks #51/51 for entry risk.

Measure Santa Cruz-Watsonville CA Statewide
Overall Score 31.9 Favorable 56.6 High
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #71 of 294 metros #51 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 44.3 Construction 47.5 Healthcare and Social Assistance 49.2 Administrative and Support Services 54.0 Finance and Insurance 61.0 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 62.6 Retail Trade 64.7 Other Services 78.6 Accommodation and Food Services 83.7

Information in Other California Metros

El Centro 12.3 #4/294 Merced 16.0 #10/294 Vallejo 26.8 #43/294 Bakersfield-Delano 28.7 #54/294 Napa 31.3 #67/294 Salinas 32.5 #75/294 Modesto 33.7 #79/294 Visalia 37.0 #100/294 Stockton-Lodi 40.2 #117/294 Redding 41.3 #124/294

+ 13 more metros. View all in California →

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Santa Cruz-Watsonville's information sector, the wage competitiveness component (74.2) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.