Orange County’s unemployment rate was 3.8% in July, up slightly from a month earlier but down from last year, the state Employment Development Department said Friday.
OC’s unemployment rate in July compares to 3.7% in June and an estimated 4.1% last July.
California’s unemployment rate was 5.1% in July, with the national rate at 5%.
OC’s total nonfarm employment was up a modest 1% to 1,508,800 during the past year.
The addition of 14,300 jobs during the past year was spurred by the professional and business services sector, which accounted for 7,500 new jobs.
The tourism and hotel sector added 2,300 jobs in the past year.
