Orange County’s unadjusted jobless rate rose to 3% in June, up from a revised 2.4% in May and below the year-ago estimate of 3.2%, according to the state Employment Development Department.
California’s unemployment rate was 4.1% and the U.S.’s was 3.8%. The most recent June 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.
OC non-farm employment increased by 4,200 jobs to 1.67 million in June from the previous month. Eight of the 11 sectors reported monthly increases while two sectors reported declines and one was unchanged.
“Construction reported the highest growth with the addition of 3,900 jobs,’’ the EDD said. “Ninety percent of the increase was in specialty trade contractors (up 3,500 jobs). Construction of buildings and heavy and civil engineering construction added 200 jobs each.”
Professional and business services were up 1,800 jobs, while leisure and hospitality added 1,600 and retail trade was up 400.
The largest monthly decline county-wide was educational and health services, which dropped 2,800.
