SAN DIEGO (CNS) - The unemployment rate in San Diego County in March was 7.7 percent, down from a revised 8 percent in February and the 9.3 percent in the same month last year, the state Employment Development Department reported today.
The figure is the lowest in the region since 7.4 percent rate in December 2008.
Statewide, the unemployment rate was 9.4 percent last month, and 7.6 percent nationally. Neither the state or federal figures are seasonally adjusted.
The bar and food services industry grew the most in San Diego, adding 2,300 positions from February to March, according to the EDD.
The biggest growth since March 2012 came in professional and business services, which added 11,600 jobs -- with administrative and support areas accounting for more than half of the growth, according to the agency. Around 32,600 non-farm jobs have been added since March 2012 in San Diego County.
The EDD reported that 124,100 San Diegans were unemployed last month, out of a civilian labor force of 1.6 million.
