La Mesa Jobless Rate Still Among Lowest in East County

La Mesa’s unemployment rate fell a click in May, dropping to 8.1 percent from April’s 8.2 percent, new state figures show. San Diego County’s jobless rate fell to 9.6 percent from a revised April rate of 9.8 percent— with 149,500 out of work.

The Jewel of the Hills had an estimated 33,600 people in the labor force in May, with 2,700 counted as jobless, according to the state Employment Development Department.

In the current recession, the city’s jobless rate reached a high of 9.2 percent in January 2010 but fell to 8.7 percent in January 2011. The March unemployment rate here was 8.6 percent, according to the state.

Again this month, Santee shared La Mesa’s jobless rate. Neighboring communities had higher rates in May, including Mt. Helix-Casa de Oro (9.1 percent), El Cajon (13.1) and Lemon Grove (12.0), according to state figures (attached).

With 4,500 people out of work, National City still posted the county’s highest jobless rate at 18.3 percent—but down from the 18.6 percent in April.  With 200 jobless residents, Valley Center had the county’s lowest rate at 4.7 percent, down from 4.8 in April.

California’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May 2011 was 11.7 percent, down from the revised 11.8 percent for April 2011, and above the year-ago rate of 12.4 percent. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the nation during May was 9.1 percent.

Marin County had the state’s lowest rate at 7.4 percent. Imperial County had the highest rate at 27.7 percent—down from a revised rate of 27.3 percent in March.