Orange County’s unemployment rate fell to 3.0% in April, down from 3.4% in March and above the 2.9% seen in April last year, according to the state’s Employment Development Department.
The state’s unemployment rate was 4.3% in April while the U.S.’s was 3.1%.
Nonfarm OC employment rose by 15,200 jobs from March to April when 1.71 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 gains.
Leading the job increase was private education and health services, which added 4,300 jobs, 91% of which was an increase in health care and social assistance, 3,900 jobs.
Leisure and hospitality added 3,800 jobs, some 2,700 of which were in accommodations and food services.
Two industry sectors — trade and government — each declined by 100 jobs.
