Construction Jobs Grow by 1,500 in May : Employment: Despite second monthly increase for the industry, the total number of county jobless was also up.

Orange County’s construction industry posted its second consecutive monthly gain in May, making construction one of a handful of industries showing signs of recovery, according to state figures released Tuesday.

However, the number of Orange County residents out of work in May increased to 65,100 people, or 4.8% of the work force, according to the state Employment Development Department. In April, the unemployment rate was 4.6%.

The discrepancy between the job growth and unemployment figures is due to the way the state keeps statistics: Not all of the new jobs created in Orange County were necessarily filled by people who live in the county.

Construction gained 1,500 jobs, service industries added 2,300 jobs and agricultural employment rose by 200 jobs in May, the EDD said. The increase in agricultural employment is seasonal.

On the downside, the county lost 2,000 more manufacturing jobs in May.

In all, there were 1,217,500 jobs in Orange County in May, up 0.2% from April, when the number of jobs was 1,215,100. But the May job figures are still lower by 10,400 jobs than in May, 1990.

The May jobless rate is the same as the 4.8% rate reported in February and March.

In May, 1990, 44,400 Orange County residents were unemployed, a jobless rate of only 3.2%.

By comparison, the U.S. unemployment rate was 6.9% in May; the statewide figure was 7.7%, while Los Angeles County recorded an 8.4% rate.

A year-to-year comparison of the number of jobs in Orange County shows construction jobs declined by 8,700, or 12.2%, from May, 1990, to May, 1991. Manufacturing has lost 7,700 jobs, a decline of 5.1%. Service employment grew by 4,900 jobs.

Unemployment Rate in Orange County 1988: 2.7% 1991: 4.8%