Southern California unemployment rates rise in July

Summer breaks at schools drove up the unemployment rates in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, according to state data released Friday.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in LA County increased to 5.5% in July from a revised 5.3% in June, according to the state Employment Development Department. LA County’s rate was 4.9% a year ago.

Civilian employment rose by 13,000 jobs totaling 4,767,000 in July, while unemployment increased by 9,000 to 275,000 lost positions, the EDD reported. The civilian labor force added 22,000 positions to 5,042,000 between June and July.

LA County’s unadjusted unemployment rate was 6.5% in July, the EDD said.

California’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.2% in July 2024, 5.2% in June and 4.7% in July 2023.

National unemployment estimates were 4.3% in July, 4.1% in June and 3.5% one year ago.

Between June and July, total nonfarm jobs in LA County decreased by 30,800 to 4,558,000.

“The academic summer recess drove government job levels down by 35,000 for the largest month-over decline,” according to an EDD statement.

The “average-sized” seasonal job losses were mostly in local government educational services that decreased by 33,900 positions that include teachers, teacher assistants and administrative support staff. These reductions accounted for 89% of the government sector decrease.

The Information sector lost 3,800 jobs in the second largest month-over employment decline.

“The decrease was driven down by losses in the motion picture and sound recording industry,” the EDD reported. “Motion picture and sound recording has added jobs in four of the last six months and accounts for 55% of the overall industry sector employment.”

The unemployment rate in Orange County was 4.4% in July, above a revised 4% in June, and above the July 2023 rate of 3.6%.

From June to July, total Orange County’s nonfarm employment decreased to 1,704,900, a loss of 2,100 jobs.

Local government job losses in Orange County accounted for most of the seasonal total decrease of 9,200 jobs, the EDD reported. The majority of the drop was in local government, which shed 8,400 jobs, due to the summer recess. The state government trimmed 1,000 jobs, and the federal government gained 200 jobs.

Between July 2023 and July 2024, total nonfarm employment in Orange County increased by 31,100 jobs, or 1.9%.

In the Inland Empire, the July jobless rate for the the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area was 5.8%, up from a revised 5.3% in June and higher than July 2023’s 4.9%. The unemployment rate was 5.9% in Riverside County and 5.7% in San Bernardino County, according to EDD figures.

Between June and July, nonfarm employment dropped 12,600 jobs to total 1,692,400. Agricultural jobs decreased by 1,500.

Governments in the Inland Empire lost the most jobs with a decline of 18,000, according to EDD data. Local government lost 17,800 jobs, sate government decreased by 300 while the federal government add 100 positions in the area.

The Inland Empire lost 300 manufacturing jobs, and leisure and hospitality dropped 100 over the month.

Compared with July 2023, nonfarm employment increased by 34,200, or 2.1%. Agricultural employment increased 2.2% for a 300-job total.