San Diego’s unemployment rate held steady for the third month in a row at 4.8 percent in September, according to the Oct. 19 report from the state Employment Development Department.
The rate was below California’s 5.4 percent, but above the nation’s unemployment rate of 4.5 percent for the same period.
The largest decline in jobs came from the leisure and hospitality sector, which lost 4,100 jobs during the past month, mainly in a category called arts, entertainment and recreation, associated with summer tourism.
The area also continued to shed construction jobs, with 800 fewer in September. In the past year, the area has lost 5,600 construction jobs.
The largest increases came from government, up by 6,400 jobs, mainly in the kindergarten through 12th grade education category, as summer recess ended. There was also a 2,000-job gain in education and health services, again connected to employees at colleges returning to work. The state classifies the two kinds of teachers differently.
During the full year, the region increased its non-farm employment by 11,800 jobs, a gain of only 0.9 percent.
The bulk of the growth was in the leisure and hospitality sector, which added 6,000 jobs in the past 12 months. Nearly all of that came in the accommodation and food service category.
, Mike Allen
