Poway Unemployment Dips to 4.1%

Poway's unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in April, down from 4.6 percent the month before and 5.1 percent a year ago, the state Employment Development Department reported Friday.

The unemployment rate in San Diego County in April was 7 percent, down from a revised 7.7 percent in March and below the estimate of 8.6 percent in April 2012.

Statewide, the unemployment rate was 8.5 in April and 7.1 percent nationwide.
Neither the state or federal figures are seasonally adjusted.

The leisure and hospitality industry recorded the largest gain in San Diego County between March and April, adding 2,400 positions, according to the EDD. Jobs in accommodation and food services accounted for about 75 percent of the growth in that sector.

About 2,300 jobs were also added over the month in the trade, transportation and utilities sector, the EDD reported.

About 2,000 positions were lost in the professional and business services sector, mainly in professional, scientific and technical services, according to the EDD.

The EDD reported that 2,800 non-farm jobs have been added in San Diego County between March and April, while 300 agricultural jobs were gained.

The largest increase since April 2012 came in professional and business services and educational and health services, which added 6,300 jobs each, according to the agency. Around 25,100 non-farm jobs have been added since in San Diego County over the year.

Three hundred fewer Poway residents were unemployed last month (1,200) than last year at this time (1,500), according to EDD data. The labor force also grew from 28,600 in April 2012 to 29,100 last month.

According to the EDD, 111,900 San Diegans were unemployed last month, out of a civilian labor force of about 1.6 million. The figures are not seasonally adjusted.

-City News Service