Unemployment rates in Southern California counties dropped in December, according to the state Employment Development Department.
Los Angeles County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased over the month to 5.6% in December, falling below the 6.1% rate from one year ago, according to EDD figures released Friday.
Orange County’s December unemployment rate was 3.9%, below a revised 4.2% in November.
California’a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.5% in December, down from 5.6% the previous month and the same rate as in December 2024.
The comparable estimates for the nation were 4.4% in December, 4.5% in November, and 4.1% a year ago.
Despite the lower unemployment rate, between November and December total nonfarm employment in LA County decreased by 3,400 jobs to total 4.65 million.
In LA County, trade, transportation and utilities led the five industry sectors that add positions over the month, with 4,700 new additions to payrolls. Gains were reported in retail trade, wholesale trade, transportation, warehousing and utilities. Retail gains were mostly in clothing, clothing accessories, shoes, jewelry and general merchandise.
Job losses totaling 4,300 occurred in private education and health services, the largest of six sectors that shed jobs between November and December.
In Orange County, government payrolls contracted by 2,200 positions, the most of any industry sector over the month.
Five industry sectors expanded from November to December, which the largest payroll gains in trade, transportation and utilities.
Inland Empire
Payroll gains were more plentiful than losses in the inland regional economy, and Riverside County’s unemployment rate finished 2025 lower at the year’s start, according to EDD data.
The Riverside County unemployment rate in December — based on preliminary, nonseasonally adjusted EDD estimates — was 5.2%, compared with 5.5% in November.
The December rate was 0.1% lower than a year ago, when countywide unemployment was 5.3%. The rate, however, was slightly higher compared with December 2024’s 5%.
The combined unemployment rate for Riverside and San Bernardino counties — the Inland Empire — fell to 5.1% from 5.5% in November.
Cherry Valley had Riverside County’s highest unemployment rate countywide in December at 10.8%, followed by Coachella at 9.3%, Rancho Mirage’s 8.4%, Valle Vista’s 7.6% and Blythe and Hemet with 6.9% apiece.
Data combining Riverside and San Bernardino counties showed payrolls grew in December by the largest margin in trade, transportation and utilities, where 3,400 positions were added, mostly in the logistics industry.
The health services, information technology and professional business services sectors also grew, adding an aggregate 500 jobs.
Payrolls lost jobs by the widest margin in the construction sector, which eliminated 1,200 positions. The agricultural, financial services, hospitality and public sectors contracted by an estimated 1,000 jobs in December.
Miscellaneous unclassified industries also lost 1,000 positions, according to the EDD.
Mining and manufacturing were unchanged.
