According to data released by the Employment Development Department (EDD) in California on Friday, September 18, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Los Angeles County dropped to 5% in August, lower than July’s 5.3% and 5.6% from a year ago.
California’s unemployment rate stands at 5.1%, while the national rate is at 4.1%.
In August, the civilian labor force in Los Angeles County decreased by 21,000 people compared to July, reaching 5.03 million; civilian employment decreased by 8,000 people to 4.751 million; and the number of unemployed individuals decreased by 13,000 to 252,000.
The EDD reported that non-agricultural employment in Los Angeles County increased by 38,000 positions from July to August, reaching a total of 4.6034 million.
Government sectors saw the most job growth in August, adding a net of 28,200 positions. Among them, local government jobs increased by 31,000 positions, while state government jobs decreased by 2,600 and federal government jobs decreased by 200, partly offsetting the overall increase.
In August, private education and healthcare services in the county added 4,000 jobs, with healthcare and social assistance adding 2,400 positions, and private educational services adding 1,600 jobs.
Professional and business services added 3,700 jobs, leisure and hospitality added 1,700, manufacturing added 1,400 positions, trade, transportation, and utilities added 900, and construction added 300 jobs.
Other services sector decreased by 1,400 jobs that month, and financial activities decreased by 800 jobs.
Compared to a year ago, non-agricultural employment in Los Angeles County increased by 33,900 positions, or 0.7%, from August 2025 to August 2026.
The private education and healthcare services industry saw the largest job growth over the past year, adding a total of 32,600 positions. Among them, healthcare and social assistance added 28,900 jobs, including 14,300 in social assistance, 10,400 in outpatient care services, and 4,200 in nursing and residential care facilities.
Government employment increased by 14,500 positions compared to a year ago, with local government adding 19,700. State government decreased by 3,400 positions, and federal government employment decreased by 1,800.
Over the past 12 months, leisure and hospitality added 11,700 positions, and other services sector added 2,900.
The information sector saw the largest job decline over the past year, losing 11,100 positions. Within this sector, motion picture and sound recording industries decreased by 8,200 jobs, a 7.9% decrease.
Publishing industry lost 1,300 jobs over the past year, and broadcasting and content providers decreased by 1,200.
Professional and business services sector lost 5,700 positions over the past year, financial activities decreased by 4,400, manufacturing lost 3,800 jobs, trade, transportation, and utilities decreased by 2,600, and construction lost 200 jobs.