LA County unemployment rate dips in February

LOS ANGELES (CNS) — Los Angeles County’s unemployment rate dipped to 5% in February, from 5.4% in January, according to figures released Friday by the state Employment Development Department.

The 5% rate was just a hair higher than the 4.9% rate from February 2023.

Orange County’s February 2024 unemployment rate was 4.2%, the same as January.

Statewide, California’s unemployment rate increased slightly to 5.3% in February, up from 5.2% a month earlier, with a loss of 3,400 non-farm payroll jobs, the EDD reported.

Overall, the number of Californians employed in February was 18,321,900 — down by 20,100 from January and 82,600 fewer than in February 2023, according to the EDD.

The total number of unemployed Californians stood at 1,027,000 in February, an increase of 13,100 from the previous month and up by 165,400 over February 2023.

In LA County, February’s total employment number stood at 4,761,700 while the unemployed total was 252,900, the EDD reported.

The agency said that four of the state’s 11 industry sectors gained jobs in February, with private education and health services — up by 15,400 — having the largest month-over-month gain thanks in large part to “other” health practitioners such as acupuncturists and dieticians, as well as home health care services and individual and family services.

Notable month-over-month losses were seen in construction — down by 9,600 — which the EDD attributed in part to the storms that pounded the state in February. Trade, transportation and utilities jobs also dipped a total of 7,300, the agency said.