La Mesa Jobless Rate Stuck at 8.5 Percent for Second Straight Month

La Mesa’s unemployment rate was unchanged in March, matching the 8.5 percent of February, according to data released Friday by the state Employment Development Department.

With an estimated 33,900 people in the labor force, La Mesa in March had 2,900 out of work, the state says.

La Mesa statistics are not seasonally adjusted.

The state unemployment rate fell to 12 percent, San Diego city was at 10.2 percent, and the county rate was up slightly to 10.2 percent for March, after recording 10.1 percent in February. While the state’s unemployment rate was down overall, nonfarm jobs fell to 11,600 during the month.

The state has added 188,100 jobs since March 2010.

Cities in the county with lower rates are Valley Center with 5.0 percent and Del Mar at 5.3 percent. The worst jobless rates locally are National City with 19.3 percent and Imperial Beach with 16.2 percent. 

The U.S. Labor Department announced national numbers for March, with unemployment at 8.8 percent.

Four categories (information; professional and business services; educational and health services; and government) added jobs over the month, gaining 9,100 jobs. Educational and health services posted the largest increase over the month, adding 5,100 jobs.

Meanwhile, Seven categories (mining and logging; construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; financial activities; leisure and hospitality; and other services) reported job declines this month, down 20,700 jobs.

Counties in the state with the highest unemployment last month were Colusa County (north of San Francisco) with 26.7 percent; Imperial County, 24.6 percent; Sutter County (near Sacramento), 22.9 percent; and Merced County, 21.4 percent; and San Benito County (both inland of San Francisco), 20.6 percent.