Orange County’s unemployment rate rose to 4.2% in January, the highest level in two years.
It’s up from a revised 3.8% in December and above the 3.4% rate seen in January last year, according to the state’s Employment Development Department.
The state’s unemployment rate was 5.7% in January while the U.S.’s was 4.1%.
Nonfarm OC employment decreased by 24,700 jobs from December to January when 1.68 million were employed.
Ten of the 11 industry sectors saw job declines.
Leading the job decrease was the trade, transportation and utilities sector, which fell 6,800 jobs, particularly retail trade that was down 5,500. Leisure and hospitality had the next biggest decline, down 6,200 jobs.
About 18 million worked in California in January, an increase of 58,100 nonfarm payroll jobs from December and up about 225,400 jobs from a year earlier.
Ten of the 11 industry sectors added jobs month-over-month, led by private education and health services, up 18,100.
People receiving unemployment benefits rose by 15,669 to 392,541.
