La Mesa Jobless Rate Falls to 8.2%—Again the Lowest in East County

About 100 more La Mesans had jobs in September than August, according to state figures, as the city’s unemployment rate fell from 8.5% to 8.2%.

The decline came as San Diego County’s jobless rate fell to 9.7% in September, down from a revised 10.2% in August. The city’s rate was the lowest for the month since September 2008, when it was 5.3%.

According to a report in The San Diego Union-Tribune, the dip in the local unemployment rate was accompanied by a “seasonally adjusted loss of 1,900 jobs, led by sharp dips in construction and business services.”

“What that means is that the decline in the jobless rate did not come from a spurt of new hiring but instead came from shrinkage in the labor force, which often happens at the end of summer,” said the U-T report.

The state Employment Development Department said 2,800 La Mesans were out of work—out of 34,000 in the labor force.

La Mesa and Santee again shared the same unemployment rate of 8.2% for September—the lowest in East County.  The highest was El Cajon at 13.2%. Casa de Oro/Mount Helix posted a 9.2% jobless rate, an improvement from the month-earlier 9.5.

Lemon Grove had a 12.2% jobless rate last month, and Spring Valley 11.3%, according to state figures (see attached).

The figures were not seasonally adjusted.

The state unemployment rate was 11.4% and the nation’s 8.8 percent, according to the EDD.
 The county’s nonfarm employment dropped by 3,600 jobs over the month, but was 17,300 more than last year.

Employment increased in the government sector in September, but the leisure and hospitality and construction industries experienced decreases, the
 EDD said.

Leisure and hospitality saw the greatest increase over the past year, adding 5,400 jobs, the report stated. Four other sectors also reported employment growth over the year—professional and business services; educational and health services; trade, transportation and utilities; and financial activities.

Construction posted the greatest decline over the past year, losing 1,500 jobs, the report stated.
The preliminary number of San Diego-area residents who were unemployed last month was 152,700, down by 7,500 from a revised figure 160,200 in August, the report stated.

City News Service contributed to this report.