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August 18, 2017

The San Diego Monthly Employment Report (June 2017 to July 2017) shows an increase in the civilian labor force, an increase in employment and an increase in the unemployment rate.1

Labor market highlights for July 2017

Unemployment

The California Employment Development Department (EDD) reported an increase in San Diego’s unemployment rate from a revised 4.3 percent in June to 4.7 percent in July, remaining below the year-ago estimate of 5.1 percent.

The 4.7 percent unemployment rate falls below the highest July unemployment rate (11.1 percent in 2010) and below the lowest July unemployment rate experienced in the region over the last 10 years (4.9 percent in 2007).

San Diego & California unemployment rates
Civilian labor force & employment numbers

Month-Over Job Changes2

Five sectors reported month-over job gains. Leisure & Hospitality recorded the largest gains, adding 3,800 jobs to the economy, with 2,700 coming from Accommodation & Food Services and 1,100 coming from Arts, Entertainment & Recreation.3 Other industries that showed increases include Other Services (up 1,300), Financial Activities (up 600), and Manufacturing and Information, adding 300 jobs each.

Five sectors reported month-over job losses. Government led, losing 11,500 jobs, followed by Professional & Business Services (down 1,000), Educational & Health Services (down 900), Construction (down 700) and Trade, Transportation & Utilities (down 100). Overall, employers in San Diego County lost 7,900 jobs in the past month.

San Diego County Year-Over Job Gains & Losses

Year-Over Job Changes

Between July 2016 and July 2017, six sectors experienced year-over gains. Government saw the largest year-over gain, adding 9,100 jobs to the region. Most of this growth came from an 8,300 job increase in Local Government.4 Educational & Health Services increased by 5,000 jobs, followed by Other Services (up 4,900), Construction (up 2,400), Financial Activities (up 1,900) and Leisure and Hospitality (up 1,800).

Four industries saw year-over losses, led by Trade, Transportation and Utilities, down 1,900 jobs. This was followed by Professional & Business Services (down 1,600), Manufacturing (down 1,100) and Information (down 100). Overall, employers in San Diego County have added 20,400 jobs in the past year.

San Diego County Year-Over Job Gains & Losses

Summary

Industry sectors in San Diego County were split between month-over job gains and losses in July, with five industries going in each direction. Six sectors saw growth from July 2017. San Diego employers have shown a net loss of 7,900 jobs since June 2017, but a gain of 20,400 jobs since July 2016. Additionally, San Diego’s unemployment rate of 4.7 percent remains lower than the California rate of 5.1 percent.

“There are a few changes in our labor market this month that might seem alarming at first,” says Phil Blair, Executive Officer of Manpower Staffing/San Diego. “But they follow predictable seasonal trends. A 10,000+ job decline in government is par for the course, as is a rising unemployment rate. The comparison with where we were at this time last year tells the real story. Unemployment is 0.4 percent lower than July 2016; government posted the greatest year-over gain of any industry, adding 9,100 jobs. San Diego’s economy is still growing.”


1Labor force, employment and unemployment are reported by place of residence, including self-employed individuals, unpaid family workers, household domestic workers & workers on strike.
2Jobs data is gathered from employers through the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey, administered monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The CES excludes self-employed individuals, unpaid family workers, household domestic workers & workers on strike.
3Employment Development Department (EDD)
4Employment Development Department (EDD)

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