County Jobless Rate Drops to 3.9%, Lowest in Southern California Still

Unemployment in Orange County dropped slightly again last month to 3.9%, the lowest jobless rate of any county in Southern California for the 11th consecutive month, according to a monthly report released Monday by the state Employment Development Department.

The number of county residents seeking employment decreased by 900 in November to 48,700 but was up 2,600 from November, 1985, when the unemployment rate also was 3.9%

By contrast, the November unemployment rate in Los Angeles County was 6.4%, while the seasonally adjusted rate for all of California hit 6.8%.

Only Marin and San Mateo counties had lower jobless rates than Orange County, registering 3.3% and 3.5% respectively.

From October to November, Orange County’s unemployment rate fell slightly from 4%, as 5,100 new jobs were added to the county’s economy for a total of 1,047,600 workers. Since November, 1985, the county added 38,600 jobs, increasing the employment base by 3.8%. Part of the increase was attributed to trade disputes in 1985 that idled more than 3,000 teamsters and meat cutters.

The opening of new department stores in Costa Mesa’s South Coast Plaza and elsewhere and the usual increases in retail staffs in preparation for the holidays accounted for 3,700 jobs in the county’s November, 1986, gain. By comparison, in November, 1985, only 2,600 employees were added to the county’s retail work force.

Also, the services sector added 1,400 jobs this past November, mostly in employment agencies and other business services, hotels and amusement parks, while government payrolls expanded by 1,600 as public schools and colleges staffed up for the fall term.

But manufacturing lost 900 jobs in November, following four months of modest gains. Compared with November a year ago, however, the county showed a net gain of 600 manufacturing jobs, including a loss of 1,000 jobs in the durable goods sector offset by a 1,600 gain in nondurable goods.

While oil-tool and computer-manufacturing segments lost 2,000 jobs, furniture manufacturing lost 800 jobs and electrical machinery lost 700 jobs in the 12-month period, there was an increase of 1,600 jobs in the manufacture of transportation equipment, including airplanes, missiles and auto parts.