La Mesa Jobless Rate of 6.7% Is Lower Than San Diego County Average

With an estimated 2,400 people out of work, La Mesa had a a jobless rate of 6.8 percent in December, the state reported Friday. That was tied the lowest rate for all cities in East County, along with Santee—and less than county’s rate of 8.1 percent.

The community of Casa de Oro/Mount Helix had a slightly higher jobless rate of 7.6 percent, with 900 people out of work. Spring Valley's rate sate at 9.4 percent, with an estimated 1,500 people jobless. 

La Mesa had a 7.0 percent jobless rate in November 2012 and a 7.6 percent rate in December 2011, according to state records.

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The county unemployment rate in December was down from a revised 8.4 percent in November and well below the 9 percent figure from December 2011, the state said.

That compares with unemployment rates of 9.7 percent in California and 7.6 percent nationwide. Those figures are not seasonally adjusted.

San Diego’s figure is the lowest since a rate of 7.4 percent was recorded in December 2008. The region gained around 20,300 jobs over the course
of the year, and there were 14,000 fewer jobless than December 2011, according to the agency.

The biggest job gains in December came in retail, which gained 1,800
positions thanks to the holidays, the agency said. Gains were also seen in the
Health Care and Social Assistance sector.

Around 1,100 positions were lost in area hotels and restaurants last
month, plus 600 more in state government.

The agency reported that 130,200 San Diegans were jobless last month,
out of a civilian labor force of 1.6 million people. Del Mar has a labor force of 3,100, with about 3,000 employed.

—City News Service contributed to this report.