The unemployment rate in San Diego County last month was 5.8 percent, unchanged from the month before but well below the 7 percent recorded at the same time last year, the state Employment Development Department reported Friday.
The rate was 7.1 percent for all of California, and 5.5 percent nationwide, according to the EDD. Neither figure is seasonally adjusted.
In San Diego, 6,400 new seasonal retail positions were added in November, accounting for half the monthly job growth.
"We figured San Diego's numbers would be great since the U.S. reported very strong figures a few weeks ago, but we didn't expect local growth to be this outstanding," said Mike Combs, research director at the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp.
Over the past year, 8,500 jobs new jobs were filled in the professional, scientific and technical sector, along with 4,000 new administrative and support positions, according to the EDD.
Health care and social assistance added 7,300 jobs over the past year, while food services and drinking establishments increased employment by 4,800 positions.
"I can't understate how impressive San Diego's jobs numbers are this month," said Phil Blair, CEO of the Manpower employment agency. "We're far exceeding even the most optimistic expectations, and continue to lead the way."
Around 94,000 San Diegans were unemployed in November out of a civilian labor force of 1.62 million. That's nearly 17,000 fewer people without jobs than the same time last year, the EDD reported.
