The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate inched upward to 11% in Los Angeles County in December, up from a revised 10.9% in November, according to figures released Friday by the state Employment Development Department.
The 11% rate was well above the 4.3% rate from the pre-coronavirus era of December 2019.
In Orange County, where seasonally adjusted numbers were not available, the December jobless rate was 7.4%, up from 6.4% in November.
Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 9% in December, up from 8.1% in November, but well above the 3.9% rate from December 2019. The comparable estimates for the nation were 6.7% in December, 6.7% in November and 3.6% in December 2019.
According to the EDD, total nonfarm employment in Los Angeles County dropped by 23,900 jobs between November and December to reach more than 4.2 million. The leisure and hospitality sector posted the biggest job losses, likely due to resurgent public health concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the agency.