LA County Jobless Rate Drops To 5% In August

LOS ANGELES, CA — Los Angeles County's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 5% in August, down from a revised 5.3% in July and 5.6% a year earlier, according to figures released Friday by the state Employment Development Department.

The 5% rate compared with 5.1% for California and 4.1% for the nation in August, according to the EDD.

The county's civilian labor force declined by 21,000 people from July to 5.003 million in August, while civilian employment fell by 8,000 to 4.751 million. The number of unemployed people decreased by 13,000 to 252,000.

The county's unadjusted unemployment rate was 4.9% in August.

Total nonfarm employment in Los Angeles County increased by 38,000 jobs between July and August to 4,603,400, according to the EDD.

Government recorded the largest monthly increase, adding 28,200 jobs. Local government added 31,000 positions, including 32,500 in local government educational services as schools reopened for the academic year.

Those gains were partially offset by losses of 2,600 jobs in state government and 200 in the federal government.

Private education and health services added 4,000 jobs, including 2,400 in health care and social assistance and 1,600 in private educational services.

Professional and business services added 3,700 jobs, while leisure and hospitality gained 1,700. Manufacturing added 1,400 positions, trade, transportation and utilities gained 900, and construction added 300.

Other services lost 1,400 jobs over the month, while financial activities shed 800.

Over the year, total nonfarm employment in Los Angeles County increased by 33,900 jobs, or 0.7%, from August 2025 to August 2026.

Private education and health services led the year-over-year gains, adding 32,600 jobs. Health care and social assistance accounted for 28,900 of those positions, including gains of 14,300 in social assistance, 10,400 in ambulatory health services and 4,200 in nursing and residential care facilities.

Government employment increased by 14,500 jobs over the year, with local government adding 19,700 positions. State government lost 3,400 jobs and federal government employment declined by 1,800.

Leisure and hospitality added 11,700 jobs over the 12-month period, while other services gained 2,900.

The information sector recorded the largest year-over-year decline, losing 11,100 jobs. The motion picture and sound recording industries accounted for 8,200 of those losses, a 7.9% decline.

Publishing industries lost 1,300 jobs over the year, while broadcasting and content providers shed 1,200.

Professional and business services lost 5,700 jobs over the year, while financial activities declined by 4,400. Manufacturing lost 3,800 positions, trade, transportation and utilities shed 2,600, and construction declined by 200.

City News Service