L.A. County Unemployment Inches Up

The unemployment rate in Los Angeles County inched up to 4.5 percent in July from a revised 4.4 percent in June, the state Employment Development Department reported Friday. The rate remained below the unemployment rate of 5.2 percent one year earlier. California’s unemployment rate in July was 4.8 percent while the national unemployment rate was 4.3 percent. Government payrolls registered the largest month-over-month decrease in the county with a loss of 35,300 jobs, the EDD report said. Summer vacation drove down employment in both public and private schools, the agency said. Industries that reported the largest month-over-month hiring were construction, which rose by 3,200 jobs; leisure and hospitality, which rose by 3,200 jobs; and trade, transportation and utilities, which rose by 2,300 jobs.