San Diego County lost 3000 nonfarm jobs in December, although the unemployment rate remained at a very low 3.3 percent, according to the state Employment Development Department. That 3.3 percent rate bettered the 4.2 percent rate in California and 3.9 percent for the nation during the period.
Educational and health services jobs fell by 2400 in the month. Construction jobs dropped by 1300, but local citizens and visitors kept drinking and eating in style: employment in food and drinking places rose by 1100.
In the year from December 2016 to December 2017, employment went up by a so-so 1.5 percent. Farm jobs dropped by 100. Over the year, food and drinking places added the most jobs: 3100 jobs.
More from SDReader
- More stories by Don Bauder
- County loses 20,500 jobs in January — March 8, 2018
- Local unemployment keeps dropping — Dec. 25, 2017
- County unemployment rate stays low — April 21, 2017
- County unemployment rate drops to 4.2 percent — March 24, 2017
- County labor report — Jan. 20, 2017
Comments
Visduh
Jan. 19, 2018 @ 7:11 p.m.
Don, When these figures for jobs and unemployment come out, I keep having the same questions. If jobs worked actually are reduced, the unemployment rate should increase. Yet this month's numbers show a loss of jobs and a continuance of a very low unemployment rate. And for San Diego we've had a number of instances where the jobs went down and so did the unemployment rate. I hazard to guess that there were a few months when the opposite happened.
All of this makes me think that either or both of the stats are invalid. The impact of the reported rates is heavily politicized, and when that is the case, the credibility of the stats goes down, way down. The notion that San Diego, of all cities, has the lowest unemployment rate in the nation is hilarious/concerning/appalling. But one thing that it isn't is credible. Whatever measurement tools are being used, and who is using them, need to get a hard-nosed review. These reports make no sense, and I, for one, will not accept them as accurate.
Don Bauder
Jan. 19, 2018 @ 10:02 p.m.
Visduh: The unemployment rate is calculated by dividing the number of unemployed individuals by all individuals currently in the labor force.
In December, the unemployment rate stayed at 3.3 percent. The labor force decreased by 7700. Employment dropped by 7100. Unemployment dropped by 600. Best, Don Bauder
AlexClarke
Jan. 20, 2018 @ 7:56 a.m.
How many people are working full time and still qualify for taxpayer funded welfare programs? How many people are working full time and still remain in poverty? How many people are working part-time but want to work full time? How many people would like to work but have not been able to fine work? How many people have given up? How many people are working in low wage low/no benefit jobs?
MURPHYJUNK
Jan. 20, 2018 @ 8:05 a.m.
and how many working "off the books" for tax free income ?
Don Bauder
Jan. 20, 2018 @ 12:40 p.m.
Murphyjunk: You should be able to go online and get some estimates of people in the underground economy. Best, Don Bauder
Don Bauder
Jan. 20, 2018 @ 12:39 p.m.
AlexClarke: Those are poignant questions. I doubt many of your queries can be answered from monthly statistics. Best, Don Bauder
Log in to comment