Southland Employment Rate Dips Below 5 Percent

LOS ANGELES, CA -- The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Los Angeles County was 4.9 percent in January, down from a revised 5.1 percent in December, the state Employment Development Department reported Friday.

The 4.9 percent rate was also below the 5.6 percent rate from January 2016.

In Orange County, where seasonally adjusted numbers were not available, the unemployment rate was 3.9 percent, up from 3.5 percent in December.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for California was 5.1 percent in January, down from 5.2 percent in December and below the 5.7 percent rate in January 2016. The comparable estimates for the nation were 4.8 percent in January, 4.7 percent in December and 4.9 percent a year ago.

According to the EDD, total nonfarm employment decreased in Los Angeles County by 78,700 jobs between December and January, dipping just below 4.4 million. The trade, transportation and utilities sector posted the largest reduction, losing 28,800 jobs.

About 249,000 people were unemployed in January in Los Angeles County, which has a workforce of about 5.1 million.

-- City News Service, photo via Shutterstock