O.C. Posts Lowest Jobless Rate in Southern California in August

By Chris Jennewein

There's good news on the job front for Rancho Santa Margarita-area residents and the rest of Orange County. 

Although California’s jobless rate increased slightly to 8.9 percent in August as more people began looking for work, Orange County continued to have the lowest rate in Southern California, the state Employment Development Department reported Friday.

The rate for Orange County declined to 6.2 percent from 6.5 percent in July and was the lowest in Southern California. Here's how the counties compared in August according to the state EDD:

• Orange County– 6.2%
• San Diego County – 7.4%
• Ventura County – 7.8%
• San Bernardino County – 10.0%
• Los Angeles County – 10.2%
• Riverside County – 10.8%

California's unemployment rate in August was 0.2 percentage points higher that the 8.7 percent recorded in July, but still well below the 10.4 percent rate in August a year ago, the state EDD reported.

By comparison, the overall unemployment rate in the United States was 7.3 percent in August, down from 7.4 percent in July and 8.1 percent a year ago.

The Golden State's non-farm payroll jobs increased by 29,100 during August for a total gain of 826,500 jobs since the economic recovery began in February 2010, the state EDD said.

The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,500 California households.