San Diego County unemployment rate drops to lowest in more than three years

SAN DIEGO - The unemployment rate in San Diego County last month declined to 8.7 percent, its lowest level in more than three years, down from a revised 9.6 percent in March and less than the 9.7 percent recorded in April 2011, the state Employment Development Department announced today.

The figure for San Diego County compares with 10.5 percent for California and 7.7 percent for the nation, according to the EDD. The figures are not seasonally adjusted.

San Diego's mark was its lowest since it recorded a rate of 8.6 percent in February 2009, according to agency data.

The EDD also reported a substantial decline in the number of San Diegans unemployed last month, 138,200, a drop of around 14,000 from March.

Also falling sharply was the total labor pool in the county, down about 12,000 in April to not quite 1.6 million people, according to EDD data. The agency said the labor pool is 10,000 people bigger than April of last year.

Around 2,600 non-farm jobs were created last month, the EDD said.

The agency reported large gains in leisure and hospitality -- especially in restaurants and other food services, and financial and business services, off-setting losses in government positions.

Over the past year, the biggest job-gaining sectors in the area were education and health services; trade, transportation and utilities; and professional and business services.