Orange County’s employment winning streak began its ninth year as local bosses added 11,000 workers in the 12 months ended in August while joblessness fell to 3.1 percent.
Here are nine Orange County job market trends for August from the state Employment Development Department’s monthly report: last month’s data compared to a year ago and the average of the previous five years …
1. Jobs: 1.62 million compared to 1.61 million a year ago — up 11,000 or 0.68 percent — vs. O.C.’s 1.53 million 5-year average. It’s the largest job count this century for any August.
2. Job growth: That 0.68 percent growth rate compared to 2.43 percent a year ago and 2.07 percent two years ago. Four-county Southern California growth in August? 1.66 percent.
3. Recovery: Orange County ‘s has had year-over-year job growth for 97 consecutive months dating to August 2010. In this post-recession rebound, 259,900 jobs were created, or a 2.2 percent annualized hiring pace.
4. Unemployment rate: 3.1 percent compared to 3.2 percent the previous month; 3.8 percent a year ago; and a 5.1 percent 5-year average. And it’s the lowest jobless rate this century for any August.
5. Number of jobless: 49,500 compared to 62,000 a year ago — down 12,500 or 20.2 percent — vs. 80,547 over five years.
6. Goods-producing jobs: 260,400 compared to 264,700 a year ago — down 4,300 or 1.6 percent — vs. 246,795 over five years.
7. Service jobs: 1.36 million compared to 1.35 million a year ago — up 15,300 or 1.1 percent — vs. 1.28 million over five years. This is the biggest service staffing since 2000 for any August.
8. Government jobs: 145,900 compared to 145,700 a year ago — up 200 or 0.1 percent — vs. 154,565 over five years.
9. Comparable joblessness: For August, California’s rate was 4.1 percent; four-county Southern California at 4.6 percent; Los Angeles County at 5.1 percent; Inland Empire at 4.5 percent … and nationally, 3.9 percent.
Statewide county-by-county unemployment rates …
