San Diego’s unemployment rate for November was 6.9 percent, or flat from a revised 6.9 percent in October, according to the Dec. 18 report from California’s Employment Development Department.
The state agency initially put the rate at 6.8 percent for October but revised it upwards after reviewing additional data. The 6.9 percent matches the rate in May 1994 when the region was pulling out of a prolonged recession.
The latest report shows another month when the area shed jobs rather than created them, with 2,300 fewer jobs in November than October. From November 2007, the region has lost a net of 15,300 jobs, or a 1.2 percent over the 12 months.
“Year over year, it’s getting worse,” said Barbara Ruehl, a labor market analyst with EDD. “From May to now, we’ve been consistently losing jobs.”
The two largest segments contributing to job contraction are retail sales, which was down by 6,400 jobs, and construction, which lost 6,200 jobs over the 12-month period.
Just four industry segments showed a net gain in jobs over the year: educational and health services, up 2,900; government, up 2,200; leisure and hospitality, up 1,100; and mining, up 100.
Most economists have predicted more job losses in the face of a financial crisis that shows no signs of abating soon. San Diego’s unemployment was still below that of California at 8.3 percent for the same month, but above the national rate of 6.5 percent.
, Mike Allen
