Local Unemployment Rate Shows Small Drop

The unemployment rate in Los Angeles County in June was 11.2 percent, down from 11.4 percent in May, and more than one point lower than the 12.4 percent of June 2011, the state Employment Development Department announced Friday.

That compared with 10.7 percent unemployment in California and 8.2 percent nationwide, according to the EDD. The figures are not seasonally adjusted.

The EDD statistics showed growth in the seasonal leisure and hospitality industry, which added 4.600 positions between May and June. Construction was the next largest gainer, with 3,700 additional jobs.

Information services added 3,000 jobs and professional and business services added 2,800. Educational and health services showed 7,800 job losses.

In all, 13,300 jobs were gained countywide, bringing the total to about 3.86 million jobs.

In Diamond Bar, the unemployment rate was listed at 7.9 percent. Nearby, Walnut came in at 5.9 percent for the month, while Pomona was at 12.3 percent. Meanwhile, Baldwin Park, with a similarly sized workforce, came in at 13.8 percent.

In the nearby San Bernardino-Riverside-Ontario reporting area, the rate rose to 12.6 percent, up from 11.8 percent in May. The rate is still down from 14.0 percent a year ago.