Orange County saw a 1.4% decline in jobs in February from a year earlier, a yearly loss of 21,500 jobs, according to the state’s Employment Development Department.
The decline is nearly double the 12,500 jobs that were lost in January from a year earlier.
The county actually gained jobs on a monthly basis in February, adding 6,900 workers from January, though largely due to a revision. The state revised January’s job count down by 8,900.
OC’s unemployment was 4.3% in February, down from a revised 4.5% for January. A year earlier, the county’s unemployment rate was pegged at 3.6%.
Finance and construction continued to lead job losses. Finance saw its largest monthly drop with the loss of 1,300 jobs. On a yearly basis, finance is down by 18,500 jobs.
Construction saw the loss of 4,200 jobs from a year earlier.
Government and leisure and hospitality added jobs in February from January. Educational and health services were up from a year earlier.
