Unemployment Rate Drops in LA, Orange Counties

Unemployment Rate Drops in LA, Orange Counties
A pedestrian walks by a help wanted sign in San Francisco, California, on March 25, 2011. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
City News Service
4/16/2021
Updated:
4/16/2021

LOS ANGELES—Los Angeles County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dipped to 11.3 percent in March, down from a revised 11.5 percent in February, according to figures released today by the state Employment Development Department.

The 11.3 percent rate was still well above the pre-pandemic rate of 5.4 percent in March 2020.

In Orange County, where seasonally adjusted numbers were not available, the March jobless rate was 6.4 percent, down from 6.8 percent in February.

Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 8.3 percent in March, down from 8.5 percent in February, but also well above the 4.5 percent rate from March 2020. The comparable estimates for the nation were 6 percent in March, 6.2 percent in February and 4.5 percent in March 2020.

According to the EDD, total nonfarm employment in Los Angeles County increased by 34,200 jobs between February and March to reach about 4.1 million. The leisure and hospitality sector led the way with 13,300 jobs.