San Diego’s unemployment rate fell slightly to 6.9 percent in March from 7 percent in February, as the region gained 12,700 nonfarm jobs, according to the state’s Employment Development Department.
In comparison, the California jobless rate increased a tenth of 1 percent to 8.1 percent, while the national rate was 6.8 percent in March, down from 7 percent in the prior month.
In San Diego last month, nearly every job sector showed net gains led by leisure and hospitality, up 3,400 jobs; educational and health services, up 2,400; government, up 2,100; and construction, up 2,000.
From March 2012, the region showed a net gain of 32,600 jobs, an increase of 2.5 percent.
Professional and business services posted the largest gains over the 12 months, with 6,500. It was followed by leisure and hospitality, up 6,100; construction, up 5,800; and educational and health services, up 5,000.
Only two sectors sustained net losses for the year: financial activities, down 400; and information, down 100.
