WASHINGTON: Fewer San Diegans were out of work in August despite the usual drop in tourism jobs, state officials reported Friday. The region’s unemployment rate dropped to 5 percent in August, down from a revised 5.3 percent in July. That’s lower than the statewide 5.6 percent rate and the same as the nationwide 5 percent.
While August’s numbers were promising to economists because it is typically a higher month for joblessness as the tourism season winds down and students return to school, the slow overall job growth has some worried. “The fact that we’re at 5 percent is a good situation,” said Alan Gin, an economist at the University of San Diego.
About 2,000 leisure and hospitality jobs went away from July to August. But, more than 6,000 jobs were added in that category in the past 12 months. However, only 25,000 new jobs have been added across San Diego County in the past year, which Gin said could point to trouble.
