Unemployment Rate Nears 5% in San Diego County; California Approaches 6%

The unemployment rate in San Diego County increased to 4.9% in July, up from a revised 4.5% in May, and above the year-ago estimate of 4%, according to figures released Friday by the state Employment Development Department.

Last month’s rate compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 5.8% for California and 4.5% for the nation during the same period.

Between June 2024 and July 2024, total nonfarm employment decreased from 1,569,600 to 1,557,400, a drop of 12,200 jobs. Agricultural employment lost 100 jobs.

Government lost the most jobs month-over-month with 15,200 — nearly 90% of which was through local government due to summer recess. State government saw a loss of 1,800 jobs while federal government posted a modest gain of 100.

Additionally, private education and health services employment dropped by 600 jobs, with both sub-sectors reporting losses. Other services and information also edged downward, contracting by a combined total of 400 jobs.

On the other side, five industry sectors saw month-over gains of 4,000 jobs. Leisure and hospitality saw the largest increase, 1,900 jobs. Financial activities and professional and business services each increased employment by 700 jobs, followed by construction — up 400 — and trade, transportation, and utilities — up 300.

Between July 2023 and July 2024, total nonfarm employment increased by 13,500 and agricultural employment grew by 300.

Leading the growth was private education and health services, boosting its employment by 12,900 jobs. Five other sectors also reported increases, for a combined total of 10,900 jobs. More than half of those gains were by government alone — up 5,500. The remaining 5,400 jobs came from leisure and hospitality, construction, other services, and mining and logging.

A total of five sectors lost 10,300 jobs in the year-over figures. Professional and business services posted the largest decline with 4,500, followed by manufacturing — down 3,700 — information — down 1,300 — financial activities — down 600 — and trade, transportation, and utilities — down 200.

— City News Service