Lemon Grove Unemployment Rate Stays the Same

No better, no worse. That’s the news for the 54 percent of Lemon Grove residents who are counted among the city’s labor force, according to state data released Friday.

If the good news is that no more residents have lost jobs so far in 2011, the less encouraging news is that at 12.6 percent, the unemployment rate is above the San Diego average, which decreased slightly in February, according to figures released by the California Employment Development Department.

Overall, the unemployment rate for San Diego city and county is 10.1 percent, down from 10.3 percent in January.

In the region, Santee and La Mesa had the same jobless rate at 8.5 percent, Spring Valley is at 11 percent, and El Cajon is at 13 percent, according to the EDD. Poway is faring better at 6 percent.

According to the state, city statistics are not seasonally adjusted.

Lemon Grove’s jobless rate is about on par with the state, but lagging nationally. California's February seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 12.2 percent, down slightly from 12.4 percent in January. Nationally, the unemployment rate for February is 8.9 percent.

In the county, agricultural employment gained 500 jobs over the month, said the state. Professional and business services reported the greatest month-over-month gain, adding 1,800 jobs. Other areas reporting gains were leisure and hospitality, educational and health services, and government.

Sectors that reported declines included trade, transportation, utilities, manufacturing and construction.

Lemon Grove’s labor force numbers 13,800, with 12,100 employed and 1,700 out of jobs at this time.

For complete state data, see the PDF.

La Mesa Patch Editor Ken Stone contributed to this report.