County unemployment continues downward trend

SAN DIEGO — The unemployment rate in Imperial County continues to trend downward, according to data released Friday by the state’s Employment Development Department.

The county’s unemployment rate in February was 16 percent, down a half percentage point from the prior month and down from 18.6 percent in February 2017.

The most recent result represents a continued steady decline in unemployment countywide since a recent peak of 22 percent in August 2017.

The rate was calculated based on a total civilian workforce of 72,500 persons, down from 75,800 the year prior. That figure includes self-employed individuals, unpaid family workers, household domestic workers and workers on strike.

Total industry employment, which excludes those four subcategories, was 66,200 persons.

Leading employment categories by industry included government (18,700 persons), farm (12,600 persons), retail (7,900 persons), and educational and health services (9,700 persons).

By city, El Centro had the lowest unemployment rate at 12.4 percent, while Calexico had the highest at 24.5 percent.

Falling in between were Brawley at 13.2 percent, Calipatria at 16.3 percent, Heber at 19.4 percent, Holtville at 12.7 percent, Imperial at 13.1 percent and Westmorland at 13.5 percent.Despite the positive trend, Imperial County continues to lag well behind the rest of the state and nation in unemployment.

Average unemployment in California statewide in February was only 4.5 percent, while the rate for the nation overall was 4.4 percent.