County unemployment rate stays low

The San Diego County unemployment rate for March was 4.2 percent, the same as the revised figure for February. California was 5.1 percent and the nation 4.6 percent in the same period.

The county gained 4300 non-farm jobs in the month -- a good figure. Government employment was up 1600 and educational and health services 1500. Leisure and hospitality jobs rose by 1300, but professional and business services jobs declined by 1100.

Between March 2016 and March 2017, jobs rose by 29,600, or 2.1 percent. Government jobs were the big winner, rising 6700. Education and health services jobs rose by 6200 over the year, and construction was up 5700.