The Orange County unemployment rate rose to 4.5% in August up from a revised 4.4% in July, and above the year-ago estimate of 4.0%, the California Employment Development Department (EDD) said today. That compares to an unadjusted unemployment rate of 5.9% for California and 4.4% for the nation during the same period.
Between July and August, total non-farm employment slid from just over 1.7 million to just under 1.7 million, for a loss of 3,800 positions.
The category denominated “other services” showed the biggest decline, losing 1,700 jobs, followed by government, down 1,500.
EDD said two sectors had month-over employment increases: construction as well as private education and health services, up 1,000 jobs each.
