The unemployment rate in San Diego County last month was 6.1 percent, up from a revised 5.8 percent the month before, the state Employment Development Department said Friday.
The local figure compares to 7.3 percent unemployment in California and 6.1 percent nationwide. Those rates, which are not seasonally adjusted, are also up a little bit from the previous month.
San Diego’s unemployment rate has generally declined over the past couple of years, with the May figure being the lowest since 2008. However, the descent has been a little bumpy, with small upticks occurring every few months.
The biggest local job gains over the past month were, according to the EDD, in:
- arts, entertainment and recreation, which were up by 1,700
- professional, scientific and technical services, up by 1,400, and
- trade, transportation and utilities, up by 1,200.
Around 96,500 San Diegans were unemployed in June out of a labor force of nearly 1.6 million, according to the EDD. The total number of unemployed is nearly 30,000 fewer than this time last year, when the unemployment rate was 7.8 percent.
A broad layoff announced by Microsoft Thursday soon could influence those numbers though. Industry observers say the tech giant, which will layoff 18,000 workers, will target its recently acquired Nokia division for the cutbacks. Nokia maintains offices in San Diego.
Nationally, state unemployment rates for June fell in 22 states, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Western states continued to struggled with higher jobless numbers, with a 6.7 unemployment rate as a region.
– City News Service
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