Unemployment in San Diego rose in June to 4.4 percent from May’s rate of 3.8 percent, according to the latest report by the state’s Employment Development Department.
Despite the rise, the number of non-farm jobs in the region expanded by about 6,400 positions, bringing the total to 1.28 million.
San Diego continued to retain an unemployment rate below the average for California at 5.4 percent, and below the nation, at 5.2 percent.
The largest sectors boosting payrolls during June were leisure and hospitality, gaining 1,800 jobs.
Construction gained 1,200 jobs, trade, transportation and utilities, a segment that includes retail trade, added 1,200 jobs.
Professional and business services, which include temporary staffing firms, also expanded personnel by about 1,000, according to the EDD.
In the last 12 months, total non-farm employment was up by 16,200 jobs, a 1.3 percent gain.
The biggest industries contributing to the gains were construction, which increased by 5,100 jobs; government was up by 3,000 jobs, mostly in education; and leisure and hospitality rose by 2,400 jobs.
The only sector showing a net loss of jobs was manufacturing, which declined by 900 jobs.
Mike Allen
