Politics & Government
O.C. Unemployment Down to 7.7 Percent
Summer vacation decreased government payrolls countywide between July and August.
The unemployment rate in Orange County dipped to 7.7 percent in August, down from a revised 7.9 percent in July, the state Employment Development Department reported Friday.
Payrolls in O.C. decreased by 5,200 jobs, almost entirely the result of a decline in government jobs due to summer, according to the EDD.
A total of 1,388,100 people were employed in Orange County in August, out of a labor force of about 1.6 million, the labor report stated.
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Professional and business services reported the largest employment increase in August with the addition of 2,100 jobs overall. Of the growth 80 percent was in administrative and support services, which includes temporary help firms.
Since August 2011, Orange County has gained 29,000 jobs.
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In California, the jobless rate for August was 10.4 percent; nationally, 8.2 percent during the same period.
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