Construction-Job Increase Fuels O.C. Employment Improvement

Orange County’s employment rate, standing at 4.1 percent in April, is the lowest it has been since June 2007. During the same year-ago period, it was at 5.1 percent. Meanwhile, the overall average in the United States was at 5.4 percent.

A major increase in construction jobs is credited for much of this improvement. Local firms added 2,700 jobs last month, a 9.8 percent jump from the same period in 2014. Many of those added positions are for multifamily and single-home construction.

Manufacturing also saw a jump, at 2.6 percent, and the county added a total of 50,500 jobs in April. The restaurant, hotel and theme-park industries also saw an increase, at 2.1 percent, with 4,100 additional positions.