Orange County’s unemployment rate in November fell to 6.4 percent—the lowest it’s been since March, according to the California Employment Development Department (EDD).
The county gained 16,500 jobs in November, according to the EDD report. They were mostly in the leisure and hospitality sector, which experienced the biggest loss during the COVID-19 pandemic.
About 9,800 jobs were filled in the arts, entertainment, and recreation fields. Orange County’s trade, transportation, and utilities field added another 6,700 jobs to the labor force.
Meanwhile, the county’s construction sector experienced the largest loss of jobs in November, with a decrease of 3,100 positions.
Overall, the unemployment rate throughout California dropped to 8.2 percent in November, its lowest number since March. The state’s unemployment rate has been steadily decreasing for the past six months.
California’s leisure and hospitality sector reported an increase of 27,800 jobs, largely due to the return of the arts, entertainment, and recreation fields in the fall.
The trade, transportation, and utilities sector added 19,700 jobs.
