59.4 F
Laguna Hills
Friday, Apr 17, 2026

OC Unemployment Falls to 4.0% in February

Nonfarm job count down 2,100

Orange County’s unemployment rate fell to 4.0% in February from a revised 4.1% in January and above the 3.9% in February last year, according to the state’s Employment Development Department.

The state’s unemployment rate was 5.5% while the U.S.’s was 4.7%.

Nonfarm OC employment fell to 1.68 million, down 2,100 jobs.

Trade, transportation and utilities fell the most, 2,400, mostly in retail trade, off 1,500 jobs.  Three other sectors reported decreases: construction, 1,300; private education and health services, 700; and information, 300.

Five sectors increased, led by government and leisure and hospitality sectors, adding 900 each.

The state declined 19,900 jobs for a total of 18.1 million.

 

Want more from the best local business newspaper in the country?

Sign-up for our FREE Daily eNews update to get the latest Orange County news delivered right to your inbox!

Would you like to subscribe to Orange County Business Journal?

One-Year for Only $99

  • Unlimited access to OCBJ.com
  • Daily OCBJ Updates delivered via email each weekday morning
  • Journal issues in both print and digital format
  • The annual Book of Lists: industry of Orange County's leading companies
  • Special Features: OC's Wealthiest, OC 500, Best Places to Work, Charity Event Guide, and many more!

Peter J. Brennan
Peter J. Brennan
With four decades of experience in journalism, Peter J. Brennan has built a career that spans diverse news topics and global coverage. From reporting on wars, narcotics trafficking, and natural disasters to analyzing business and financial markets, Peter’s work reflects a commitment to impactful storytelling. Peter’s association with the Orange County Business Journal began in 1997, where he worked until 2000 before moving to Bloomberg News. During his 15 years at Bloomberg, his reporting often influenced financial markets, with headlines and articles moving the market caps of major companies by hundreds of millions of dollars. In 2017, Peter returned to the Orange County Business Journal as Financial Editor, bringing his heavy business industry expertise. Over the years, he advanced to Executive Editor and, in 2024, was named Editor-in-Chief. Peter’s work has been featured in prestigious publications such as The New York Times and The Washington Post, and he has appeared on CNN, CBC, BBC, and Bloomberg TV. A Kiplinger Fellowship recipient at The Ohio State University, he leads the Business Journal with a dedication to uncovering stories that matter and shaping the local business community and beyond.

Featured Articles

Related Articles