Orange County’s unemployment rate ticked down to 4.1% in December from 4.2%, according to non-seasonally adjusted data released by the California Employment Development Department on Friday.
A total of 3,000 nonfarm jobs were added to the county’s labor force, which ended the month with 1,573,300 workers. There were 67,400 people on unemployment.
The trade, transportation and utilities industry added 2,500 jobs; health and education services added 1,700, and finance added 1,100. Government shed 1,200 jobs.
The construction industry added 10,500 jobs for the year. Hospitality and leisure added 8,300 positions, and education and health services added 8,200.
The state’s unemployment rate moved in the opposite direction in December, increasing to 5.8% from 5.7%. The national unemployment rate was unchanged at 5%.
Orange County’s workforce increased by 41,400 jobs in all of 2015.
