The San Diego Monthly Employment Report (September 2017 to October 2017) shows a decrease in the civilian labor force, an increase in employment and a decrease in the unemployment rate.1
Unemployment
The California Employment Development Department (EDD) reported a decrease in San Diego’s unemployment rate from a revised 4.1 percent in September to 3.7 percent in October, remaining below the year-ago estimate of 4.7 percent.
The 3.7 percent unemployment rate falls below the highest October unemployment rate (11.1 percent in 2010) and below the lowest October unemployment rate experienced in the region over the last 10 years (4.7 percent in 2016).
Month-Over Job Changes2
Seven sectors reported month-over job gains. Government continues to record the largest gains, adding 7,100 net jobs to the economy, with 3,200 coming from State Government Educational Services.3 Professional & Business Services added 3,200 jobs, Educational & Health Services added 2,800 jobs, followed by Trade, Transportation & Utilities (up 1,200), Financial Activities (up 700), Information (up 200) and Manufacturing (up 100).
Two sectors reported month-over job losses and one sector experienced no change (Information). Other Services reported the largest month-over loss with 1,00 jobs followed by Construction (down 500). Overall, employers in San Diego County added 13,800 net jobs in the past month.
Year-Over Job Changes
Between October 2016 and October 2017, seven sectors experienced year-over gains. Educational & Health Services experienced the largest year-over gains, adding 4,300 jobs to the region. Most of this growth came from a 4,800 job increase in Health Care & Social Assistance.4
Other Services increased by 3,300 jobs, followed by Government (up 2,900), Leisure & Hospitality (up 2,900), Financial Activities (up 2,400), Professional & Business Services (up 2,100) and Construction (up 1,800).
Two industries experienced year-over losses and one industry experienced no change (Manufacturing). Trade, Transportation & Utilities experienced the largest year-over loss, down 3,000 jobs, followed by information (down 100). An 1,800-job contraction in Retail Trade contributed heavily to this loss. Overall, employers in San Diego County have added 16,600 net jobs in the past year.
“San Diego’s unemployment rate continues to fall to record lows, a full percent decrease from this time last year,” says Phil Blair, Executive Officer of Manpower Staffing/San Diego. “We are below the statewide and national rates. However, Retail jobs, which have seen triple-digit September–October growth since 2009, is adding only 200 from last month. Other industries are picking up the slack, like Government, which typically adds jobs around this time, Health Care, which has been steadily increasing for the past several years, and Professional Services.”
Summary
Most industry sectors in San Diego County experienced both month- and year-over job gains in October, with jobs in seven sectors growing from September 2017 and seven growing since October 2016. San Diego employers have shown a net gain of 13,800 jobs since September 2017 and a gain of 16,600 net jobs since October 2016. Additionally, San Diego’s unemployment rate of 3.7 percent remains lower than the California rate of 4.3 percent.
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)