Unemployment in San Diego County last month jumped to its highest level in 13 years, fueled by year-to-year declines in construction and real estate, according to data released Friday by the state Employment Development Department.
One out of 16 people in the county's workforce was unemployed last month, with a seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate of 5.9 percent, up from 5.5 percent in May.
California's jobless rate rose from 6.8 percentin May percent to 6.9 percent. The state is tied with Mississippi for the third highest jobless rate in the nation, following Michigan with 8.5 percent and Rhode Island with 7.5 percent.
The nationwide average is 5.5 percent.
“Today's jobs report tells us that the California economy is in a recession,” said Stephen Levy, who heads the Center for the Continuing Study of the California Economy in Palo Alto. “Job levels have declined in five of the past six months and the unemployment rate in June is 1 percent higher than six months ago.”
