L.A. unemployment at 4.8%

The September jobless percentage is the same as the state and just a touch over the nation's 4.6 percent rate. As you've read before on LABO, a unemployment rate so close to that of the state and nation is unusual for such a large, urbanized region and points to a relatively healthy economy in Los Angeles County. Total nonfarm employment rose by 27,300 jobs from a month earlier, with schools showing the biggest increases and the leisure and hospitality sector (theme parks and other tourist stuff) posting the largest month-over-month decline. One interesting note: Construction jobs show a slight increase from September, 2005, which would indicate that the impact of a softer housing market has yet to be felt. Economists expect this sector to take it on the chin in the months ahead. All told, L.A. County has a workforce of a little over 4 million (not counting the hundreds of thousands who work in the informal, or underground, economy).