Santee Jobless Rate Down Half a Point From January to February

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Santee’s unemployment rate fell 1.2 percent in the last year, declining from 7.9 percent in February 2012 to 6.7 percent last month, according to figures released Friday.

The jobless rate in Santee fell half a point from January to February, the second largest month-to-month drop in the last few years.

About 2,300 Santeeans were out of work in February in a labor force of 33,900, the state said. In February 2011, the city’s jobless rate was 8.6 percent, said the state Employment Development Department.

The 6.7 percent rate here was the second lowest in East County, behind La Mesa (6.6 percent). 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.