Southern California’s Orange County Still Aching from 2008

A Pier in Orange County

As job losses continue heavily into 2009, Orange County is still ailing from the hit it took in 2008. The Southern Californian County had approximately 41,400 job losses last year, a staggering figure which amounted to a 2.7% decline according to the state’s Employment Development Department.

The unemployment rate at the end of ’08 in Orange County was 6.5%, which is up significantly from 4.3% a year earlier.

Job losses like this have not occurred since the early 90’s, during a recession.

12,500 jobs were lost in professional and business services. About 70% of the decline came from administrative support services, which include temp agencies.

Construction lost 400 jobs between Novermber and December last year, as did manufacturing jobs.

Education and health services were actually a couple of the few sectors to increase jobs in 2008, increasing it by about 1,300 workers.

Keep track of 2009’s declines at Employment Crossing.