Ramona Jobless Rate of 7.5% Down From Last Year

With an estimated 700 people out of work, Ramona had a a jobless rate of 7.5 percent in December, the state reported Friday. That was just below the average rate for San Diego County— 8.1 percent.

Unincorporated Valley Center had the lowest unemployment rate—3.9 percent—said the state Employment Development Department.

Ramona had a 7.8 percent jobless rate in November 2012 and a 8.4 percent rate in December 2011, according to state records.

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The county unemployment rate in December was down from a revised 8.4 percent in November and well below the 9 percent figure from December 2011, the state said.

That compares with unemployment rates of 9.7 percent in California and 7.6 percent nationwide. Those figures are not seasonally adjusted.

San Diego’s figure is the lowest since a rate of 7.4 percent was recorded in December 2008. The region gained around 20,300 jobs over the course
of the year, and there were 14,000 fewer jobless than December 2011, according to the agency.

The biggest job gains in December came in retail, which gained 1,800
positions thanks to the holidays, the agency said. Gains were also seen in the
Health Care and Social Assistance sector.

Around 1,100 positions were lost in area hotels and restaurants last
month, plus 600 more in state government.

The agency reported that 130,200 San Diegans were jobless last month,
out of a civilian labor force of 1.6 million people. Ramona has a labor force of 9,100, with about 8,400 employed.

—City News Service and Melissa Phy contributed to this report.