The California Employment Development Department reports on Friday that San Diego County’s unemployment rate in December decreased to 4.2 percent compared to the year-ago estimate of 8 percent.
The county’s unemployment rate in November ranked at 4.6 percent. Meanwhile, the unadjusted unemployment rate in California is 5 percent, and 3.7 percent for the nation.
According to local economic experts, the seasonal changes brought the region about 4,200 additional jobs.
The largest gainer was leisure, and hospitality saw 37,600 jobs added to payrolls between December 2020 and December 2021, with 32,000 of those being in accommodation and food services.
Professional and business services had the highest month-over payroll increase with 4,100 jobs added. The industries of trade, transportation, and utilities increased by 2,500 jobs, and information recorded an employment gain of 400.
Construction had the largest month-over-month decline with a loss of 2,400 jobs.
Seven industries reported losses, including 2,100 in educational and health services leisure, 1,300 in hospitality, 800 in government, financial activities down 600, manufacturing down 500, other services down 400, and mining and logging down 100.
Over the year, professional and business services gained 13,500, along with 10,800 in other services, 5,100 in government, 2,100 in educational and health services, 1,700 in trade, transportation, and utilities, and 1,400 in information.
Nonfarm employment increased by 67,600 jobs. According to EDD figures, it decreased by 1,200, from 1,458,300 to 1,457,100 between November and December.
Agricultural employment saw a loss of 800, from 9,200 to 8,400.
The EDD reported that year-over-year employment losses occurred in financial activities by 3,000 and construction by 1,600.
Employment remained unchanged in mining and logging.
“Despite a normal seasonal dip in employment, our region continued its recovery from the pandemic recession, with bright spots in retail and professional services,” said Daniel Enemark, senior economist at the San Diego Workforce Partnership. “Whether you’re just getting a start in the world of work or aspiring to a high-paying career, there are significant opportunities across the labor market.”
