Orange County’s unadjusted unemployment rate dropped to 3.2% in May from a revised 3.3% in April and below the 3.7% reported for the same period last year, the state Employment Development Department said.
OC added 1,500 nonfarm jobs for 1.6 million employees.
The statewide unadjusted unemployment rate fell to 4.7% from 4.8%. It was 5.5% a year earlier. California added 17,600 jobs for a total of 16.7 million.
OC professional and business services increased by 900 jobs, the biggest local gain, followed by construction at 800, financial activities at 300, and leisure and hospitality at 200.
Manufacturing reported the biggest decline, 900 jobs, followed by trade, transportation and utilities, down 500.
OC in added a net 3,800 jobs year-over-year, led by 3,700 in construction and 3,100 in professional and business services. Year-over-over declines were reported in manufacturing, down 3,400 jobs, and trade, transportation and utilities, down 3,000 jobs,
Statewide, nine of 11 industry sectors added 242,600 jobs year-over-year, up 1.5%. The biggest job increases were in educational and health services, up 2.5%, and government, up 1.9%. Manufacturing declined 0.7%, or 8,900 jobs, while mining and logging dropped 6.9%, or 1,700 jobs.
Statewide, 354,371 people received unemployment benefits in May, down from 388,142 in April and 362,535 year-over-year.
The U.S. earlier this month reported 4.3% unemployment, down from 4.4% month-over-month.
