Unemployment drops in Los Angeles County
LOS ANGELES — The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Los Angeles County was 4.8 percent in February, down from a revised 4.9 percent in January, the state Employment Development Department reported today.
The 4.8 percent rate was well below the 5.5 percent rate from February 2016.
In Orange County, where seasonally adjusted numbers were not available, the unemployment rate was 3.7 percent.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for California was 5 percent in February, down from 5.2 percent in January and below the 5.6 percent rate in February 2016. The comparable estimates for the nation were 4.7 percent in February, 4.8 percent in January and 4.9 percent a year ago.
According to the EDD, total nonfarm employment increased in Los Angeles County by 33,400 jobs between January and February to reach more than 4.4 million. The educational and health services sector posted the largest gain, adding 11,900 jobs.
About 243,000 people were unemployed in February in Los Angeles County, which has a workforce of about 5.1 million.