Lemon Grove Jobless Rate Up Slightly in March

Lemon Grove's unemployment rate edged up to 11.9 percent in March, according to state figures released last week.

About 1,700 people were out of jobs here in March—up from 1,600 the previous month. The February jobless rate here was 11.7 percent.

But the jobless rate is better than that of March 2011, when it was 12.6 percent in Lemon Grove, according to the state Employment Development Department.

Despite a gain in the number of jobs, the unemployment rate in San Diego County rose to 9.5 percent in March, up from 9.4 percent in February but down from 10.1 percent in March 2011, the state reported Friday.

The San Diego County figure compares to 11.5 percent for California and 8.4 percent for the nation, according to the state agency. The figures are not seasonally adjusted.

San Diego city jobless rate was 9.5 percent in March, with 67,900 out of work.

Jobless rates in March for other Patch communities:

• Carlsbad: 6.3 percent (with 3,100 out of work).
• Casa de Oro/Mount Helix: 9.0 percent (1,000 jobless)
• Coronado:  6.1 percent (500 jobless)
• Encinitas: 6.8 percent (2,700 jobless)
• Imperial Beach: 15.2 percent (2,200 jobless)
• La Mesa: 8.0 percent (2,800 jobless)
• Lemon Grove: 11.9 percent (1,700 jobless)
• Oceanside: 9.1 percent (7,900 jobless)
• Poway: 5.7 percent (1,600 jobless)
• Santee: 8.0 percent (2,700 jobless)
• Spring Valley: 11.0 percent (1,700 jobless)

The countywide increase of 3,400 positions last month was offset by a larger labor pool, according to the state.

The agency reported large gains in leisure and hospitality—especially in restaurants and other food services, and government last month.

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

The civilian labor force of not quite 1.6 million people in March was an increase of about 5,500 from the previous month, and around 8,800 more than March 2011, according to state data.

Just over 152,000 San Diegans were listed as unemployed last month, 3,000 more than February but 7,400 less than March of last year, the agency said.

City News Service contributed to this report.