Orange County’s unemployment rate fell to 3.9% in March, down from a revised 4.2% in February and above the 3.3% rate seen in March last year, according to the state’s Employment Development Department.
The state’s unemployment rate was 5.3% in March while the U.S.’s was 3.9%.
Nonfarm OC employment increased by 7,100 jobs from February to March when 1.7 million people were employed.
Six of the 11 industry sectors saw job increases.
Leading the job increase was the leisure and hospitality sector, up 4,500, led by arts, entertainment and recreation, up 2,900 jobs.
Four sectors reported declines, led by manufacturing, trade and financial activities, each down 400 jobs.
About 18 million people worked in California in March, an increase of 28,300 nonfarm payroll jobs from February and up about 217,700 jobs from a year earlier.
Seven of the 11 industry sectors added jobs month-over-month, led by private education and health services, up 13,600.
People receiving unemployment benefits rose by 20,370 to 446,130.
