County’s Unemployment Rate Drops to Record 3.3% in March

Bolstered by growing service sector employment, Orange County’s unemployment rate slid to a record low 3.3% in March and tied for the lowest jobless rate in the state, according to the state Employment Development Department.

In addition, the number of jobless residents in the county dropped 2,700 between February and March to 43,100, the lowest level since May, 1981, the report said.

The March unemployment rate was down from the 3.5% of February--the previous record low for the county since the EDD began keeping statistics in 1974, said Alta Gale, the state’s labor market analyst for Orange County.

“Both California and Los Angeles County showed large decreases over the month, so it’s following the statewide trend,” Gale said. “It (Orange County’s rate) is the lowest in Southern California. Marin and San Mateo counties are also at 3.3%.”

Gale attributed the drop in joblessness to growth in the services industry, particularly in business services such as employment agencies and computer and data-processing services. The services industry expanded by 2,600 workers during March and by 17,900, or 7.3%, over last year, the report said.

Orange County firms employed a record 1,082,300 people in March, up 7,400 jobs from February and up 1,600 jobs from the previous peak, reached in December, 1986, the report said. In addition, wholesale and retail establishments increased their staffing by 2,000 in March and by 17,900 over the previous year, for a gain of 7.1%.

The report predicted continued job gains for the second quarter of 1987.