The San Diego County unemployment rate dropped three-tenths of a percent to 2.9 percent in April as the region's labor market continues to tighten, according to data released Friday by the state Employment Development Department.
Local unemployment is 1 percent lower than it was a year ago, and the lowest it's been since January 2000. That puts regional unemployment well below state and national averages of 3.8 and 3.9 percent, respectively.
Total nonfarm employment in the county rose 1 percent in April. The largest increases came from the professional and business services industry, which added 4,200 jobs, compared to a 10-year April average of 310 new jobs.
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The construction industry showed the largest year-over-year employment increase, with 6.2 percent. The leisure and hospitality industry, meanwhile, experienced a year-over-year decline of 1.6 percent. It was the only sector in the county to experience a decline.
Overall, 3,545 new businesses were established in April, and there were 96,808 unique job postings.
The regional labor force contracted slightly last month, shedding 5,900 workers in the seventh decline in the past year. Overall, the region's labor force includes 1,577,400 people.
National City had the highest unemployment rate in April, 3.9 percent, while Solana Beach had the lowest, with 1.2 percent.
