Unemployment soars: L.A.-Orange County No. 2 in U.S., Inland Empire No. 8
L.A.-O.C.'s unemployment rate rose 9.7 percentage points to 13.6%
Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that the L.A.-O.C. region’s unemployment rate soared 9.7 percentage points to 13.6% in the year ended in September. Of 51 large metros ranked, only Las Vegas had a larger increase: a 10.9 percentage-point increase to 14.8% in September. Both regional economies are tied to tourism, which has suffered from the public’s unwillingness to travel during the pandemic.
L.A.-O.C.’s unemployment rate in September was also boosted by the state’s strict business limitations designed to slow the coronavirus spread. A year earlier, when the state and national economies were strong, the region’s unemployment was 3.9% — seventh-highest among big metros.