SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - A new jobs report said San Diego's unemployment rate grew past the national average last month while the local labor force also grew.
The San Diego Monthly Employment Report said the rate increased from 4.3 to 4.7 percent between June and July, but remained below last year's estimate of 5.1 percent.
San Diego's labor force also increased by 12,500 people in the last month, according to the report.
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"There are a few changes in our labor market this month that might seem alarming at first, but they follow predictable seasonal trends," says Phil Blair, Executive Officer of Manpower Staffing/San Diego. "The comparison with where we were at this time last year tells the real story. Unemployment is 0.4 percent lower than July 2016; government posted the greatest year-over gain of any industry, adding 9,100 jobs.
"San Diego’s economy is still growing."
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The industry that saw the largest gain in jobs month-over-month was leisure and hospitality, adding 3,800 jobs, with 2,700 coming from accommodation and food services and 1,100 coming from arts, entertainment and recreation.
Government jobs in San Diego County took the biggest tumble, losing 11,500 jobs from June to July. However year-over-year, government jobs have seen the most growth, adding 9,100 since July 2016, the report said.
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Overall, employers lost about 7,900 jobs in the past month. Since July 2016, however, San Diego employers have gained 20,400 jobs.
Read the full report here.
