Orange County’s yearly job losses spiked in January and unemployment topped annual averages seen during the early 1990s recession.
The county lost 64,600 jobs in January from a year earlier, according to the state’s Employment Development Department.
The figure is new high water mark in more than a year of annual job losses reported each month.
For all of 2008, the county lost 30,800 jobs, a 2% decline.
January’s unemployment rate was 7.5%, topping annual averages seen in the early 1990s when unemployment peaked at 6.9% in 1993.
The figures show a rapid deterioration in employment and layoffs that went well beyond the usual letting go of seasonal workers that happens every January.
“The numbers speak for themselves,” said Ann Marshall, a consultant for the Employment Development Department.
From January to December, the county lost 33,000 jobs for a total of 1.4 million nonfarm workers.
All major industries saw job losses in January from December, led by trade, transportation and utilities, professional and business services and construction.
In January versus a year earlier, healthcare and education were among the few gainers, adding 1,800 jobs.
