Orange County added jobs in March versus February but unemployment continued to climb as yearly job losses remained at a level not seen since the 1990s recession.
The county’s unemployment rate was 8.5% last month, up from a revised 8% for February and 4.5% a year earlier.
There were some bright spots.
From February to March, the county’s nonfarm employment rose by 1,600 jobs to 1.43 million workers.
Construction, one of the hardest hit job sectors, led the monthly increase with a gain of 900 jobs. Subcontractors landing work on the few construction projects going on in the county led the increase.
Professional and business services added 400 jobs in March from February, while government added 600.
But the county continued to lose a staggering number of jobs on a yearly basis. In March versus a year earlier, the county lost 71,900 jobs, a 4.8% decline.
The drop was just shy of February’s 72,300 yearly jobs losses, the highest so far during the current recession. Both months are on par with the worst yearly job losses of the 1990s downturn.
The trade, transportation and utilities segment showed the biggest yearly loss in March, declining by 18,500 jobs. The segment includes retail jobs, which made up 60% of the group’s losses.
Construction jobs were off by 15,300 for the 12 months through March, with specialty subcontractors bearing most of the losses.
Educational and health services recorded the largest increase for the 12 months by adding 1,700 jobs.
