UNEMPLOYMENT DROPS TO 5.2%, 7.0% STATEWIDE

By Hayden Parsley

January 23, 2015 (Sacramento) - More San Diegans are getting jobs last month as unemployment dropped to 5.2%. This is down from 5.8% in December. This data was gathered in a monthly survey by the California Employment Development Department (EDD).

The EDD collects data from all across the state in these surveys. Statewide, unemployment has dropped as well, down from 7.2% to only 7%. The survey reported a net growth of 700 nonfarm jobs statewide. Leisure and hospitality reporting the largest increase at 8,300 new jobs. The largest loss in jobs was reported by government, which is down to 3,500 jobs (a 0.1% decrease).

San Diego has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the state at 5.2%, with the highest being 21% in Imperial county, and the lowest being 3.5% in San Mateo.

There has been a very large amount of growth in the past year, with statewide unemployment being 8.5% last January.