Orange County’s unadjusted unemployment rate fell to 2.8% in September from a revised 3.1% in August and 3.3% a year earlier, according to the state Employment Development Department.
California’s unemployment rate was 3.9%, and the U.S.’s was 3.6%. The most recent September numbers for the county, state and U.S. aren’t seasonally adjusted. Orange County’s lowest-ever unemployment rate was 2.2% in December 1999.
Nonfarm OC employment increased by 6,700 jobs month-over-month to 1.63 million.
Five of 11 sectors reported increases. The biggest was an 8,900 jump in the government sector led by local education workers returning after the summer recess. Construction added 1,600 jobs led by specialty-trade contractors.
The biggest decline was 1,800 jobs in trade, transportation and utilities, mostly in wholesale trade.
About 17.2 million people were working in California in September, up about 13,200 from August and 339,600 from a year earlier.
Statewide, four of 11 industry sectors added jobs month-over-month, led by professional and business services, which climbed 11,800 jobs, followed by leisure and hospitality, up 8,500, and government, up 5,100. Six sectors reported losses led by educational and health services at 3,700, information at 3,000 jobs, and construction at 2,000.
People receiving unemployment benefits fell from 306,175 in August to 284,790. A year earlier, the number was 312,933.
