O.C. Ties S.F. For 3rd-Lowest Unemployment Rate in State

About 13,100 Orange County residents joined the ranks of the employed in March, according to numbers released Friday by the state Economic Development Department.

That tied the county with San Francisco's 8.1-percent unemployment rate, leaving the two counties trailing only Marin and San Mateo as the state's most-employed (7 and 7.5 percent, respectively).

Orange County's overall jobless rate, not adjusted for seasonal fluctuations, rose a smidge from February's 8 percent, according to EDD estimates.

But the number remains significantly below the year-ago estimate of 8.9 percent.

Statewide, the unadjusted unemployment rate in March was 11.5 percent; the nation recorded an estimated 8.4 percent. L.A. County's rate was 11.9 percent.

Still, that's not to say Orange County's unemployment problem is solved. More than 1,000 job-seekers attended a , for example.

Professional and business services topped the list of Orange County industries recording growth in March, with the addition of 6,900 jobs. Administrative and support services, which includes temporary help firms, grew by 5,000, according to the EDD.

Leisure and hospitality employment gained 3,100 jobs; arts, entertainment, and recreation increased by 1,600 jobs; and accommodation and food services added 1,500, according to the EDD.

Financial activities rose by 700 jobs; real estate and rental and leasing added 500. Manufacturing, on the other hand, saw a 500-job decline.