By Jim Tortolano/Garden Grove Journal
Unemployment fell sharply in Orange County in September, and especially so in the Garden Grove-Stanton-Westminster area.
According to a report issued by the state Department of Employment Development Friday, joblessness in the county declined from 7.7 to 7.1 percent.
But the changes for local cities were even more dramatic.
Garden Grove, which was at a 9.9 rate in July, and a 9.6 rate in August, saw the number tumble to 8.9 percent in September.
For Stanton, the newest rate was 11.5, down from 12.4 in August and 12.8 in July.
In Westminster, the rate for September fell to 7.9 from 8.5 in August and 8.9 in July.
Across Orange County, an increase of 9500 jobs were added. Most of the new jobs were in government – primarily in education – as classes returned following the summer break, according to the EDD report.
Expansions were also seen in health services and leisure and hospitality, including jobs in food services and drinking places.
Over the past year, Orange County saw an increase of 24,300 jobs, which amounted to a 1.8 percent increase. Most of those jobs were in the leisure and hospitality fields, while 4300 jobs were lost in government, primarily in local government, including education.
Rates for other nearby Orange County cities included:
• Anaheim: 9.2 percent, down from 9.8.
• Cypress: 7.5, down from 8.1.
• Fountain Valley: 5.9, down from 6.4.
• Huntington Beach: 5.8, down from 6.3.
• Orange: 6.6, down from 7.1.
• Santa Ana: 11.3, down from 12.2.
• Seal Beach: 5.2, down from 5.6.
The data is not seasonally adjusted and is not an actual count, but an estimate based on statewide numbers and historical patterns of employment.
