Outpacing the nation in employment growth
California accounted for nearly a third of all new jobs across the country last month, outpacing the nation in employment growth.
Businesses stepped up hiring both in the Bay Area, with its concentration of fast-growing tech companies, and in Southern California with its more diversified economy.
Nonetheless, while California has recovered the jobs it lost during the recession, Orange County payrolls remained 47,200 below their August peak in 2006. Los Angeles County jobs remained 29,400 below the pre-recession high.
The unemployment rate stood at 7.4 percent in California, the same as in June and July, state officials said Friday.
Orange County’s jobless rate dropped to 5.4 percent last month, from 5.8 percent in July, the lowest level in Southern California. Los Angeles’ unemployment was unchanged, at 8.1 percent.
The nation’s jobless rate stood at 6.1 percent in August.