Poway Unemployment Rate Decreases in August

The unemployment rate in Poway was 6.1 percent in August, slightly down from 6.3 percent in July, the state Employment Development Department reported Friday.

San Diego County's jobless rate was 10.2 percent, down from the 10.6 percent in July and lower than the 10.7 percent recorded in the same period in 2010. While California's jobless rate was 11.9 percent in August, down from 12.4 percent in July and also lower than the 12.5 percent recorded in August of last year, according to the EDD. The rate in the United States was 9.1 percent, or 0.2 percent lower than the previous month.

Total nonfarm employment increased by 200 jobs in San Diego County between July and August to reach more than 1.2 million, led by an increase of 3,400 leisure and hospitality employees, according to EDD data. By comparison, local education districts lopped 2,000 jobs off their payrolls last month.

The number of San Diego-area residents who were unemployed last month was 159,600, down by 7,300 -- out of a countywide labor force of almost 1.6 million.

The decrease in the unemployment rate in August came after two straight months in which the figure went up, according to the EDD.

The numbers are not seasonally adjusted.

City News Service contributed to this report.