The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Los Angeles County was 4.9 percent in May, down from a revised 5.2 percent in April, the state Employment Development Department reported last Friday.
The 4.9 percent rate was well below the 7 percent rate from May 2015.
In Orange County, where seasonally adjusted numbers were not available, the unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, down slightly from 3.9 percent in April.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for California was 5.2 percent in May, down from 5.3 percent in April and below the 6.4 percent rate in May 2015. The comparable estimates for the nation were 4.7 percent in May, 5 percent in April and 5.5 percent a year ago.
According to the EDD, total nonfarm employment increased in Los Angeles County by 4,900 jobs between April and May to reach nearly 4.4 million. The leisure and hospitality sector posted the largest gain, adding 6,300 jobs.
About 244,000 people were unemployed in May in Los Angeles County, which has a workforce of about 5 million.
