IB Unemployment Falls Below 14 Percent

Also See: Should City of IB Help its Unemployed? and The Imperial Beach Library Can Help You Find a Job

Unemployment declined near a complete percentage point last month, from 14.4. percent in August to 13.6 percent in September, the state Employment Development Department reported Friday.

Since a recession began, unemployment in Imperial Beach reached a high near 17 percent last year.

The unemployment rate in San Diego County last month was 8.4 percent, down from a revised 9 percent the previous month and 9.9 percent a year ago.

Statewide, the unemployment rate in September was 9.7 percent, and 7.6 percent for the nation as a whole. The numbers are not seasonally adjusted.

In San Diego County, 134,800 people were unemployed last month out of a total job force of nearly 1.6 million, down about 6.7 percent from August's revised figures and 14.4 percent from the same period last year, according to the EDD.

The government sector reported the largest bump between August and September, led by local governments with a gain of 4,100 jobs, primarily from seasonal educational positions. State governments added 2,300 jobs, while the federal government job level remained unchanged.

The professional and business services sector gained 1,600 positions between August and September. The EDD reported that 2,000 jobs were gained in administrative and support and waste management services, partially offset by a loss of 400 jobs in the professional, scientific and technical services industry.

The leisure and hospitality industry reported a seasonal decline of 5,400 jobs, with jobs in accommodation and food services accounting for more than two-thirds of those losses. Arts, entertainment and recreation decreased by 1,700 jobs.

Agricultural employment gained 100 jobs, according to the EDD.

Total non-farm employment gained 200 jobs between August and September and 28,000 jobs between September 2011 and September 2012, according to the EDD.

–City News Service contributed to this report.