The unemployment rate in San Diego County last month was 5.1 percent, down from 5.3 percent the prior month and well below the 7.1 percent recorded in March of last year, the state Employment Development Department reported Friday.
The figure is the lowest since April 2008, when the unemployment rate was 4.9 percent, according to department data.
San Diego County's performance in March compared to 6.5 percent for the state and 5.6 percent nationwide. The state and national figures are not seasonally adjusted.
The biggest sector to add jobs in March was local government education, with 1,500 new positions, the department reported. Over the past year, the biggest gainers have been in the professional, technical and scientific services area, with 9,100 new jobs, according to the agency.
The region has gained 40,900 jobs in the past year, according to department data.
"San Diego's labor market has really hit its stride," said Phil Blair, president of the staffing firm Manpower San Diego.
"The unemployment rate is at a seven-year low and two full percentage points lower than a year ago," Blair said. "More than 30,000 people who were unemployed have found employment in the past year, and the labor force continues to grow."
In March, 79,000 San Diegans were unemployed out of a civilian labor force of 1.55 million.
