San Diego County's non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 3.6% in July, the second consecutive month with an increase, according to data released Friday by the California Economic Development Department.
The unemployment rate in the San Diego-Carlsbad region rose from a revised 3.3% in June to 3.6% last month. The rate steadily declined for most of the year's first half but has now increased by nearly a full percentage point from 2.7% in May to last month's figure.
The county's total nonfarm employment dipped by 7,200 jobs, from 1,517,200 in June to 1,510,000 last month. Farm jobs held steady at 9,000 month-over-month.
Several industries showed modest job gains in July, but those gains were wiped away by government entities shedding 14,500 jobs in the county, most of them education jobs during the summer months.
The construction, leisure and hospitality, professional and business services and financial industries all added at least 1,000 jobs in July, according to the EDD.
Despite the month-over-month job losses, the county's unemployment rate is the same as last year's July estimate of 3.6%. In that time, nonfarm industries have added nearly 30,000 jobs while farm jobs have fallen from 9,500 last July to 9,000 last month.
Nonfarm jobs are up by 29,700 from 1,480,300 in July 2018 to 1,510,000 last month, with multiple industries showing gains of 3,000 jobs or more. Government jobs increased the most of any industry, adding 9,100 jobs, while professional and business services jobs increased by 8,400.
The trade, transportation and utilities industry lost the most jobs year-over-year, shedding 3,000. The financial and information industries also lost 700 and 300 jobs, respectively.
Statewide unemployment rose to a seasonally adjusted 4.1% in July, tying a record low.
Nationwide, unemployment rose to an even 4% in July, up from 3.8% in June and down from 4.1% in June 2018.
