IB Sees Lowest Unemployment Rate in Years

Imperial Beach saw its lowest unemployment rate since 2008 last month, the state Employment Development Department reported Friday.

The unemployment rate was 11.3 in April, compared to 12.5 percent in March and 13.8 percent in April of last year. 

IB still has the second highest unemployment rate in San Diego County, but IB's unemployment rate has declined 2.5 percent since January, the largest consistent month-over-month decline since the start of the recession in 2008. 

As far back as 2000, Imperial Beach maintained a single-digit unemployment rate. IB has had a double-digit unemployment rate since 2008.

In the last decade, Imperial Beach's unemployment rate saw a high of 17.3 percent in January 2010. 

The last time IB's unemployment rate dropped more than one percent in a single month was April 2010. The last time Imperial Beach had an 11 percent unemployment rate was November 2008.

The last time Imperial Beach had an unemployment rate in the single digits was June 2008.

The unemployment rate in San Diego County in April was 7 percent, down from a revised 7.7 percent in March and below the estimate of 8.6 percent in April 2012.

Statewide, the unemployment rate was 8.5 in April and 7.1 percent nationwide. Neither the state or federal figures are seasonally adjusted.

The leisure and hospitality industry recorded the largest gain in San Diego County between March and April, adding 2,400 positions, according to the EDD. Jobs in accommodation and food services accounted for about 75 percent of the growth in that sector. About 2,300 jobs were also added over the month in the trade, transportation and utilities sector, the EDD reported. 

About 2,000 positions were lost in the professional and business services sector, mainly in professional, scientific and technical services, according to the EDD. The EDD reported that 2,800 non-farm jobs have been added in San Diego County between March and April, while 300 agricultural jobs were gained.

The largest increase since April 2012 came in professional and business services and educational and health services, which added 6,300 jobs each, according to the agency. Around 25,100 non-farm jobs have been added since in San Diego County over the year.

According to the EDD, 111,900 San Diegans were unemployed last month, out of a civilian labor force of about 1.6 million. The figures are not seasonally adjusted.

City News Service contributed to this report.