Coronado Jobless Rate Down Almost a Full Point in the Past Year

Coronado’s unemployment rate fell almost a full percentage point in the past year, declining from 6.0 percent in February 2012 to 5.1 percent last month, according to figures released Friday.

In February 2011, the Crown City’s jobless rate was 6.6 percent, said the state Employment Development Department.

About 500 Coronadans were out of work in February in a labor force of 9,000, the state said. January’s adjusted unemployment rate was 5.5 percent.

The 5.1 percent rate here was the fourth-lowest in San Diego County, behind only Valley Center (3.9 percent), Del Mar (4.1) and Poway (4.7). The highest rates in the county were National City (15.4) and Imperial Beach (12.8).

The unemployment rate in San Diego County last month was 8 percent, the lowest figure since December 2008, the state said.

February’s rate compares to an adjusted 8.6 percent in January and 9.4 percent in February 2012, the agency said.

The agency said the statewide unemployment rate was a seasonally unadjusted 9.7 percent last month, while the U.S. figure was 8.1 percent.

Job growth in the past month was seen in restaurants and bars, which added more than 2,000 jobs; administrative and employment services and state
government, according to the agency.

The retail sector, however, lost 2,400 positions, according to the agency.

About 128,600 county residents were without work last month, out of a civilian labor force of 1.6 million. Nearly 21,000 more San Diegans worked last month compared to January, the state figures showed.

—City News Service contributed to this report.