The state Employment Development Department reports that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Los Angeles County dropped to 4.4 percent in December, compared with the 4.5 percent rate in November.
The 4.4 percent rate was below the 5.1 percent rate from December 2016.
In Orange County, where seasonally adjusted numbers were not available, the unemployment rate was 2.8 percent, the same as November.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for California was 4.3 percent in December, down from 4.6 percent in November and down from 5.2 percent in December 2016. The comparable estimates for the nation were 4.1 percent in December, 4.1 percent in November and 4.7 percent in December 2016.
According to the EDD, total nonfarm employment increased in Los Angeles County by about 8,300 jobs between November and December to reach more than 4.5 million. The trade, transportation and utilities sector saw the biggest increase, adding 3,300 jobs.
About 228,000 people were unemployed in December in Los Angeles County, which has a work force of nearly 5.2 million.
