Los Angeles County's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 5.5% in July, up from a revised 5.3% in June, according to figures released Friday by the state Employment Development Department.
The 5.5% rate was above the rate of 4.9% from July 2023.
Meanwhile, the July unemployment rate in Orange County was 4.4%, up from a revised 4% in June and topping the 3.6% figure from a year ago.
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Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.2% in July - - the same as a month earlier, but topping the 4.7% of July 2023.
Nationally, the July estimate stood at 4.3% compared to 4.1% in June and 3.5% a year ago.
The L.A. County figures released Friday by the state EDD said that, in July, civilian employment increased by 13,000 to 4,767,000, while unemployment increased by 9,000 to 275,000.
The county's civilian labor force increased by 22,000 over the month to 5,042,000 in July in seasonally adjusted figures, according to the EDD. The unadjusted unemployment rate for L.A. County was 6.5% in July.
From June to July, total nonfarm employment in L.A. County decreased by 30,800 to 4,558,000, the EDD data show.
Leisure and hospitality registered the largest month-over gain in L.A. County-- adding 3,600 jobs, the agency reported.
"The advances were driven up by an addition of 2,200 jobs in food services and drinking places, which includes occupations such as fast food and counter workers and waiters and waitresses," an EDD statement said.
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