County Unemployment Rate Decreases, While Rate in South Gate Stagnates

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 (EDD) announced this month.

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.

The total labor force of in South Gate in June was reported at 40,900 people, which was 500 less then that of May.

Approximately 5,800 of this total were listed as unemployed. This is the same number of unemployed people that was registered in May. This is still a lower number of then  the 6,100 that were registered in January.  

In South Gate, the unemployment rate was listed at 14.1 percent for the month of June.

Nearby, Lynwood registered an unemployment rate of 17.4 percent, Paramount at 16.1 percent,  Huntington Park at 16.5 percent, Cudahy at 15.4 percent, while Downey recorded the lowest with a 8.9 percent. 

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