The research, which lists preliminary labor force statistics for December 2002, says that San Diego's unemployment level was recorded as 4.2% for that month, as compared with 4.5% for the month of November and 4.6% for the month of October.

In addition, San Diego County is currently ranked as number four statewide, which means that only three other regions in California--Marin, San Luis Obispo and Orange counties--have lower levels of unemployment. San Diego's December labor force consisted of 1,478,900 people, according to the EDD report, which adds that 1,416,400 workers were employed and 62,500 were out of work.

The report also points out that the San Diego region once again reported a lower level of unemployment than the statewide average. The state's overall unemployment level was 6.6% for the month of December, which is more than two whole percentage points higher than San Diego's rate.