Lemon Grove Unemployment Rate Drops Slightly

The unemployment rate in Lemon Grove dropped slightly in August, according to figures released by the Employment Development Department on Friday.

The local rate decreased to 11.2 percent, down from 11.6 percent in July and 12.8 percent in August 2011.

The unemployment rate in San Diego County in August was 9 percent, down from a revised 9.3 percent the previous month and lower than the 10.3 percent level of August 2011, according to the EDD.

Statewide, the unemployment rate in August was 10.4 percent, and 8.2 percent for the nation as a whole. The numbers are not seasonally adjusted.

In San Diego County, 143,900 people were unemployed last month out of a total job force of more than 1.6 million, almost 6,000 less than July. The total is down by about 19,000 since the same period last year, according to the EDD.

Most employment sectors gained jobs between July and August, led by trade, transportation and utilities with 1,300 new jobs, and leisure and hospitalities, with 1,200. The EDD reported that the professional and business services sector lost 3,100 positions during the time period, and manufacturing lost 700 jobs.

—City News Service contributed to this article.