The unemployment rate in San Diego County last month was 6.6 percent, up from 6.1 percent in June but below the 8 percent rate recorded in July 2013, the state Employment Development Department announced Friday.
The local figure for July is the highest since March, when it was 6.9 percent.
The state unemployment rate in July was 7.8 percent, while nationally it was 6.5 percent. Neither the state nor national figures are seasonally adjusted.
According to the EDD, the biggest factor in the unemployment rate increase in San Diego County was a seasonal loss of 9,700 local education jobs. Another 3,100 state education positions were cut, as well.
Those losses were only partially mitigated by hiring gains in the professional, scientific and technical sector, construction and restaurants, the agency reported.
Despite the July job losses, the Employment Development Department said more than 37,000 non-farm positions have been gained in San Diego County over the past year.
Around 106,100 San Diegans were unemployed last month, 22,000 less than the same time last year, out of a civilian labor force of about 1.6 million, the agency reported.
