Unemployment Rate Continues to Creep Down

The unemployment rate in Mount Helix, Casa de Oro and Spring Valley fell for the third month in a row in October, according to the state Employment Development Department.

The rate in Spring Valley dropped slightly from September’s 11.3 percent to 11.2 percent, and in Mount Helix and Casa de Oro the rate dropped .1 percent to 9.1. The last time the unemployment rate rose in the area was in July, when it reached 12.2 percent in Spring Valley and 10 percent in Mount Helix and Casa de Oro.

Nationwide, the jobless rate inched down as well last month to 9 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That seasonally adjusted figure has held steady for most of 2011.

In California, the unemployment rate dropped to 11.2 percent, down from 11.4 percent in September. Statewide, nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 25,700 during October, for a total gain of 192,900 jobs since 2011 began, according to the EDD.

The job numbers are also showing slight improvement in San Diego County, with an unemployment rate of 9.7 percent in October, down .1 percent, according to the EDD. It was the third month in a row that the county’s rate went down, reaching a yearlong high of 10.6 percent in July.

The EDD’s rates were not adjusted for seasonal hiring fluctuations.

The county added 11,100 nonfarm jobs in October, while loosing 200 agricultural jobs. From October 2010 to October 2011, total nonfarm employment gained 24,000 jobs, or 2 percent, while agricultural jobs showed no change over the year.

Government added the most jobs—7,400—of any sector last month in the county. Local governments accounted for 5,600 of those jobs, mostly in education, up 5,500 jobs. State government added 1,800 jobs, while federal job numbers remained unchanged, according to the EDD.

Five other sectors in the county reported job growth in October: professional and business services (4,400); educational and health services (3,200); trade, transportation and utilities (600); manufacturing (200); and other services (100).

Leisure and hospitality recorded the greatest decline last month in the county, down 3,400 jobs. Accommodation and food services decreased by 2,300 jobs, mostly from food service and drinking places (down 1,900). Arts, entertainment and recreation decreased by 1,100 jobs.

The number of people unemployed in California was 2,123,000—down by 28,000 over the month, and down by 144,000 compared with October of last year.

The EDD reported that there were 494,752 people receiving regular unemployment insurance benefits during the October survey week. This compares with 494,882 last month and 592,475 last year. At the same time, new claims for unemployment insurance were 68,724 in October 2011, compared with 53,861 in September and 67,168 in October of last year.

In October 2010, the unemployment rate in Mount Helix and Casa de Oro was 9.8 percent; Spring Valley was 12 percent; the county’s was 10.4 percent; the state’s was 12.1 percent; and the nation’s was 9.7.