Orange County’s unemployment rate inched up last month as employers continued to make job cuts.
The county saw a decrease of 11,700 jobs for a total of 1,536,300, up 3.3% over the past year, according to the state Employment Development Department.
The local jobless rate in July was 4.7%, compared with 4.3% in June and 6% a year earlier.
California’s unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted, was 6.5%, up from 6.2% in June and down from 7.9% a year earlier.
The nationwide rate was 5.6%, up from 5.5% in June and down from 6.5% a year earlier.
Seasonally adjusted numbers, which are more widely reported, show that California’s jobless rate was 6.2% and nationwide, 5.3%.
Several sectors reported decreases in job totals, including government, which cut 13,000 jobs. The decrease was primarily in government education due to the summer break, according to the state agency. Orange County now has 145,700 government jobs, up 2.9% over the year.
The number of educational and health services jobs fell by 3,000 to 198,000. The sector has grown by 6.3% over the year.
The trade, transportation and utilities sector lost 500 jobs, for a total of 260,900. That’s up about 1.8% year-over-year.
The construction sector added 1,200 jobs, boosting the total to 88,800. The sector has grown 7.8% over the year.
Professional and business services added 800 jobs to 282,600. That’s up 2.4% year-over-year.
