County Unemployment Lowest in Eight Years

L.A. County’s unemployment rate dipped below 6 percent in November for the first time in eight years as holiday retail hiring led broad job gains, state figures released Friday show. November’s unemployment rate was 5.9 percent, down from 6.1 percent in October and 8 percent a year ago, according to figures from the state Employment Development Department. This time, the rate dropped because more Los Angeles residents reported they were working; in previous months the rate had fallen as more people dropped out of the labor force. Giving a sense of how far L.A. County has come, in July 2010, the unemployment rate was 13.2 percent, more than twice the current level. November’s statewide unemployment rate was 5.7 percent, down from 5.8 percent in October. The national rate was 5 percent. Meanwhile, employers in the county added 22,000 jobs last month as total payroll employment swelled to nearly 4.4 million. Retail employers added 13,700 jobs in preparation for the holiday shopping season. Once adjusted for this seasonal effect, November’s payroll employment in the county actually dropped a bit, with 1,700 fewer jobs than October. Other gainers included local public and private schools, up about 4,000 jobs, and the healthcare/social assistance sector, which added 3,600 jobs. The notoriously volatile entertainment sector posted the biggest job losses, down 3,800, while manufacturing continued its decline, shedding 1,500 jobs. Among large cities in the greater Valley region, Palmdale had the highest unemployment at 7.7 percent, down from 8.0 percent in October. Neighboring Lancaster reported unemployment of 6.4 percent, down from 6.6 percent the previous month. In the Valley, Glendale had unemployment of 5.5 percent, down from 5.7 percent, and Burbank had 4.7 percent, down from 4.8 percent. In Santa Clarita the rate was 5.2 percent, down from 5.4 percent in October. Los Angeles, the largest city in the Valley, reported unemployment of 6.0 percent in November, down from 6.3 percent in October.