Local unemployment rate drops sharply

The San Diego County unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in February, down from a revised 5.8 percent in January and 7.1 percent a year earlier. Non-farm jobs rose 6200 during the month.

The big gainer was government employment, up 2600. Local government, propelled in part by seasonal factors, accounted for 1600 of those jobs.

February jobs were up 39,700, or 3 percent, from a year earlier. Local January figures were reported March 10, much later than normal, because of Department of Labor database changes.