ECONOMY

Orange County Jobless Rate Falls: Unemployment fell to 5.4% last month, from a revised 6% in July, as the local economy sustained its modest recovery by adding 1,200 jobs. The report by the state’s Employment Development Department said the county posted job gains last month in services, construction, retail trade and manufacturing. These more than offset seasonal payroll cuts in government. Overall, the number of Orange County workers who were classified as jobless last month totaled 73,600--down from 81,300 in July and 79,700 in August, 1994, when the unemployment rate was 5.9%.