Unemployment Drops to 4.8 Percent in Los Angeles County

LOS ANGELES, CA — The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Los Angeles County was 4.8 percent in June, down from a revised 4.9 percent in May, the state Employment Development Department reported Friday.

The 4.8 percent rate was well below the 6.8 percent rate from June 2015.

In Orange County, where seasonally adjusted numbers were not available, the unemployment rate was 4.4 percent, jup from 3.6 percent in May.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for California was 5.4 percent in June, up from 5.2 percent in May and below the 6.2 percent rate in June 2015. The comparable estimates for the nation were 4.9 percent in June, 4.7 percent in May and 5.3 percent a year ago.

According to the EDD, total nonfarm employment increased in Los Angeles County by 8,700 jobs between May and June to reach nearly 4.4 million. The leisure and hospitality sector posted the largest gain, adding 8,800 jobs.

About 243,000 people were unemployed in June in Los Angeles County, which has a workforce of about 5 million.

— City News Service, photo via Shutterstock