Jobless Rate Rises Slightly in County

Orange County’s jobless rate for October rose to 4% from 3.7% in September, according to the state Employment Development Department. The rate, however, is below the 4.7% unemployment rate recorded in October, 1985.

Only Marin and San Mateo counties posted lower jobless rates last month: 3.2% and 3.4%, respectively, the agency said. Orange County’s rate--based on 49,600 jobless out of a 1.2-million-member labor force--was well below the 5.9% rate in Los Angeles County, the 6.6% statewide rate and the 7% nationwide rate.