Department of Numbers

San Diego-Carlsbad, California Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for San Diego rose 0.1 percentage points in January 2023 to 3.2%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.0 percentage points lower than the California rate. The unemployment rate in San Diego peaked in May 2020 at 16.6% and is now 13.4 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.9% in September 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.3 percentage points. You can also compare San Diego unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.4% -0.1 -0.6
California 4.2% +0.1 -1.0
San Diego 3.2% +0.1 -1.7
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with January 2023 data as February metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: San Diego, California, National

San Diego, California monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

San Diego, California Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in San Diego peaked in May 2020 at 251,021. There are now 200,100 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 46,622 in September 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 4,299. San Diego employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in San Diego, California) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
San Diego 50,921 +1,286 -25,519

Number of Unemployed Persons

San Diego, California Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
California
Unemployment Rate
San Diego
Unemployment Rate
San Diego
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 4.2% 3.2% 50,921
December
2022
3.5% 4.1% 3.1% 49,635
November
2022
3.6% 4.1% 3.1% 48,911
October
2022
3.7% 4.1% 3.0% 47,149
September
2022
3.5% 4.0% 2.9% 46,622
August
2022
3.7% 3.8% 3.0% 46,997
July
2022
3.5% 3.8% 3.1% 48,736
June
2022
3.6% 3.9% 3.3% 52,779
May
2022
3.6% 4.0% 3.6% 57,157
April
2022
3.6% 4.1% 3.9% 61,608
March
2022
3.6% 4.4% 4.2% 66,444

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.