Orange County’s unemployment rate rose to 3.2% in May from a revised 3.0% in April and above the 2.7% rate seen in May last year, according to the state’s Employment Development Department.
The state’s unemployment rate was 4.5% in May while the U.S.’s was 3.4%.
Nonfarm OC employment still gained 7,700 jobs from April to May when 1.72 million were employed. The county has surpassed the February 2020 pre-pandemic employment level of 1.68 million jobs.
Eight of the 11 industry sectors saw job increases.
Leading the job increase was the leisure and hospitality sector, which added 2,000 jobs, with the gains centered around accommodation and food services, up 1,300 jobs.
The next largest increases were in professional and business services, up 1,500 jobs and construction, up 1,300 jobs.
Two sectors had declines, led by private education and health services, down 800 jobs, and information, down 200 jobs.
About 18.1 million worked in California in May, an increase of 47,300 nonfarm payroll jobs from April and up about 427,500 jobs from a year earlier.
Eight of the 11 industry sectors added jobs month-over-month, led by private education and health services, up 16,400 jobs.
Manufacturing posted the biggest loss, 5,700 jobs.
People receiving unemployment benefits fell by 36,737 to 391,004.
