San Diego’s unemployment rate increased to 7 percent in January from December’s rate of 6.5 percent, as the region’s net job loss during the month was 16,400, according to the latest report from the state’s Employment Development Department.
In comparison, the jobless rate for California was 8.5 percent and 6.7 percent for the nation in January.
The region’s job losses came mainly from two sectors: 8,700 losses in retail, and 4,000 in educational and health services.
Four other sectors posted net losses during the month: government, down 2,600; leisure and hospitality, down 2,400; financial activities, down 1,200; and information, down 500.
Four sectors added jobs during the month led by professional and business services; and professional, scientific and technical services, both of which showed net gains of 2,400 jobs.
For the 12 months to January 2013, the region’s nonfarm employment had a net gain of 28,300 jobs, or an increase of 2.2 percent.
The largest sector contributing to that annual gain was construction, which added 6,500 jobs over the year. That was followed by two other sectors with more than 6,000 job additions: professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality.
Every sector showed a net annual job gain except for information, down 600, and financial activities, down 300.
