Orange County’s unadjusted unemployment rate fell to 6.4% in November, down from a revised 7.3% in October, according to the state Employment Development Department. A year ago, the November unemployment rate was 2.6%.
This rate compares with California’s November unemployment rate of 7.9% and the U.S.’s 6.4%. The most recent numbers for the county, state and U.S. aren’t seasonally adjusted.
Orange County gained 16,500 jobs for a total of 1.54 million nonfarm employment.
The biggest increase was the leisure and hospitality sector that added 9,800 jobs with arts, entertainment and recreation leading the gain with 9,100 jobs.
Trade, transportation and utilities added 6,700 jobs, led by 6,100 increase in retail trade
The biggest month over month decrease was construction, which lost 3,100 jobs.
The state added 57,100 jobs in November, for a total of 16.19 million jobs. In November of 2019, 17.53 million were employed.
California has now regained 46% of the 2,615,800 nonfarm jobs lost during March and April as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the EDD said on its website.
Nine of California’s 11 industry sectors gained jobs in November. Leisure and hospitality rose the most, 27,800 jobs.
Go here for more updates on how OC companies are responding to the coronavirus pandemic.
For ongoing, in-depth coverage of COVID-19’s effects on OC businesses, see the Monday print edition of the Business Journal.
