Orange County lost 10,100 jobs in July while California added 46,700, according to the state’s Employment Development Department.
Orange County’s unadjusted unemployment rate fell to 3.2% in July, down from a revised 3.3% in June and below the 3.9% reported a year ago, the EDD said in a statement today.
California’s unemployment rate was 4.4% and the U.S. rate was 4.1%. The most recent July numbers for the county, state and U.S. aren’t seasonally adjusted. Orange County’s record low unemployment rate was 2.2% in December 1999.
Nonfarm OC employment decreased by 10,100 jobs month-over-month to 1.63 million.
The biggest decline was in educational and health services, down 12,300 jobs, due to the summer recess. The state government reported a drop of 2,800 jobs.
Six of 11 sectors reported increases. The biggest was in professional and business services, which climbed 2,000, led by a 55% gain in professional, scientific and technical services.
About 17.2 million people were working in California in July, up 46,700 in July and up 332,700 year-over-year.
Statewide, nine of 11 industry sectors added jobs month-over-month, led by professional and business services, which added 15,100 jobs. Transportation and utilities added 11,200 while leisure and hospitality added 9,500.
People receiving unemployment benefits rose from 303,592 in June to 323,594 in July. A year earlier, the number was 343,729.
