Orange County lost 68,000 jobs in July versus a year, a slight easing from the 70,000-plus annual job losses the county’s seen for much of this year.
Unemployment here rose to 9.5% last month from a revised 9.3% in June and 5.6% a year earlier, according to the state Employment Development Department.
The county had 1.4 million nonfarm workers in June.
The number of people employed here last month fell 4.6% from a year earlier.
The trade, transportation and utilities sector, which includes retailers and related wholesale and distribution operations, saw the biggest annual decline with 9,600 jobs lost.
Construction continued its decline with 13,100 jobs lost for the period, followed by professional and business services at 11,800 jobs.
The number of jobs lost annually in July is staggering but marks a subtle easing from June and earlier months.
In June, the county lost 70,800 jobs from a year earlier, on par with the worst of the 1990s recession. It marked the fifth straight month of 70,000-plus yearly job losses.
The county’s high mark this year for annual losses came in April at 72,600.
From June to July, the county lost 7,900 jobs, reversing a gain of 1,000 jobs from May to June.
Part of the month-to-month layoffs were driven by teachers and other educators leaving payrolls for the summer, though the losses appear to be more severe than usual with budget cutbacks.
The government sector saw an overall loss of 6,400 jobs from June to July.
Leisure and hospitality added 1,100 jobs with hiring for the summer season.
