OC Unemployment Rises to 6.4% in June

The unemployment rate in Orange County rose to 6.4% in June, up from a revised 5.8% in May and below the year-ago estimate of 13.3%, the California Employment Development Department said.
That compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 8% for California and 6.1% for the nation during the same period.
Between May and June, total non-farm employment in Orange County increased from 1.57 million to 1.58 million, a gain of 8,600 jobs.
Leisure and hospitality added the most jobs of any OC sector with a gain of 10,000.
Employment also increased in five other sectors, including construction, up 2,000, manufacturing, up 1,400 and trade, transportation and utilities, up 1,100.
The largest month-over-month decline was government, down 3,000, as public schools closed for the summer recess.
The state job count rose 73,500 in June for a total of 16.4 million jobs. In June of 2020, 15.6 million were employed.
California has now regained 54% of the 2.71 million jobs lost during the pandemic, the EDD said on its website.
Eight of California’s 11 industry sectors gained jobs in June.
Leisure and hospitality reported the biggest gain, 44,400, thanks to restaurants hiring and increased tourism.
Go here for more updates on how OC companies are responding to the coronavirus pandemic.
For ongoing, in-depth coverage of COVID-19’s effects on OC businesses, see the Monday print edition of the Business Journal.