San Diego unemployment at 5.8%

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – The unemployment rate in San Diego County last month was 5.8 percent, unchanged from the month before but well below the 7 percent recorded at the same time last year, the state Employment Development Department reported Thursday.

The rate was 7.1 percent for all of California, and 5.5 percent nationwide, according to the EDD. Neither figure is seasonally adjusted.

In San Diego, 6,400 new seasonal retail positions were added in November, accounting for half the monthly job growth.

Over the past year, 8,500 jobs new jobs were filled in the professional, scientific and technical sector, along with 4,000 new administrative and support positions, according to the agency. Health care and social assistance added 7,300 jobs over the past year, while food services and drinking establishments increased employment by 4,800 positions.

Around 94,000 San Diegans were unemployed in November out of a civilian labor force of 1.62 million. That’s nearly 17,000 fewer people without jobs than the same time last year, the EDD reported.