Orange County’s nonseasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped from 4.1% to 4% in January as the U.S. Department of Labor’s annual review said the county lost 30,300 jobs, said the California Employment Development Department.
The state’s unadjusted unemployment rate remained at 5.8% for January, and the national unemployment rate was 5.3%, the EDD said.
An annual review by the U.S. Department of Labor said the county’s nonfarm employment was 1,549,400, and the total labor force was 1,596,400.
Professional and business services shed the most jobs: 7,800, administrative and temporary services accounting for 70% of the positions.
Trade, transportation, and utilities cut 7,700 positions, seasonal retail workers are 90% of the cuts.
Government cut 4,200 jobs, and leisure and hospitality shed 4,000. Educational and health services lost 2,800. Financial services eliminated 2,400, and manufacturing was down 1,900.
The county, however, gained 40,100 jobs year-over-year.
Construction had the largest year-over-year growth, with a gain of 12,400 jobs, 80% of them specialty trade contractors.
Leisure and hospitality had the other notable year-over-year increase in jobs, with 10,400.
The state’s unadjusted unemployment rate remained at 5.8% for January, and the national unemployment rate was 5.3%, the EDD said.
