S.D. Jobless Rate Edges Up; Year May Be Worst Since ’83
San Diego County’s unemployment rate turned up slightly in September to 6.2% as the local jobless rate heads for its highest annual average rate since 1983.
Jack Nowell, labor market analyst for the state Employment Development Department, said the jobless rate is headed to its highest local level since the 8.2% average for all of 1983. In 1984, the county’s unemployment averaged 6.0% of the work force, Nowell said, the last time the rate met or exceeded 6%. The jobless rate averaged 4.5% in all of 1990, according to the state.
The September, 1991, rate contrasts with a revised August rate of 6.0% and September, 1990’s, 5.2%. The county’s jobless level is still lower than that of California and the nation, which, respectively were 7.2% and 6.4% in September, Nowell said.
The county continues to lose jobs on a year-to-year basis. Salaried non-agricultural jobs in San Diego County in September totaled 989,200, down nearly 10,000 from the 999,100 jobs in September, 1990, but up from the 983,400 countywide jobs in August, 1991, an increase that reflects the rehiring of teachers for the school year.
The loss in jobs has been felt particularly in the manufacturing, construction, retail sales and wholesaling job categories, Nowell said.
The only category showing an appreciable gain in jobs was the service industry.
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