Joblessness in San Diego County slid again in December to a seasonally unadjusted 4.2 percent in December, down from 4.3 percent the month before, as the local economy continued to outperform the state and nation as a whole in the measure of overall employment.
Despite improvement in the local unemployment rate, the county’s total nonfarm payroll shrank in December by 900 net jobs to an estimated 1,441,300, or about 6 one-hundredths of 1 percent, according to California’s Employment Development Department. It said agricultural employment declined by an additional 400 positions, or 4.8 percent.
The EDD reported job gains in services (up 1,100 positions, or 0.1 percent), but losses in production of goods (2,000 jobs, or -1.1 percent).
The county’s unemployment rate is now about as low as it has been since the end of the Great Recession. It gradually declined to a low of about 4.2 percent in May before jumping to 5.3 percent in July and settling down again to 4.2 percent by year’s end.
California’s unadjusted jobless rate was estimated at 5 percent in December, and the national rate was pegged at 4.5 percent, also unadjusted for seasonal fluctuations.
In San Diego County, wholesale trade expanded by 1,300 jobs, or 2.9 percent. Retail was up 700 positions, or 0.5 percent. Transportation and warehousing work was up 300 jobs, or 1.3 percent.
Real estate, rental and leasing activity grew by 400 jobs, or 1.4 percent, while professional and business services in general held steady overall in December. Health care and social assistance created 1,300 new jobs, or 0.8 percent.
Construction was down 1,700 positions in December, or -2.3 percent, while manufacturing was off by 300 jobs, or -0.3 percent. Educational services contracted by 300 positions, or -1 percent, while leisure and hospitality lost 1,700 jobs, or -0.9 percent.
Government employment in the county contracted by 300 positions, or -0.1 percent.
