Orange County hiring pace slows; jobs still 25,800 below pre-pandemic level

Orange County bosses added 4,900 workers in June — 51% of the previous hiring pace — bringing employment to 98.5% of pre-pandemic levels.

My trusty spreadsheet, filled with state job figures, found local bosses had 1.65 million workers — up 78,800 in 12 months. June employment was 25,800 below February 2020, the last month before COVID-19 arrived on the economic scene.

Job growth is moderating as the Federal Reserve tries to cool an overheated economy and many bosses struggle to fill open positions. June’s hiring pace in Orange County was slower than the 9,700 average workers added monthly in the pandemic era’s employment rebound. Note: Local bosses added workers at a 2,300 monthly pace in 2018-19 before coronavirus cratered the economy.

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Orange County’s unemployment rate was 2.9% in June compared with 2.4% in the previous month, 6.9% a year earlier and 2.8% in February 2020.

Here’s how employment fared in key industries in Orange County since coronavirus shocked the economy, ranked by jobs recovery …

Healthcare, personal services: 102% of pre-coronavirus jobs with 209,700 workers. That’s up 3,900 from February 2020 after adding 900 last month vs. jobs growing 1,100 monthly in the recovery.

Transportation/warehouses: 102% of pre-coronavirus jobs with 27,800 workers. That’s up 500 from February 2020 after adding 400 last month vs. jobs growing 100 monthly in the recovery.

Restaurants: 101% of pre-pandemic jobs with 146,900 workers. That’s up 2,100 from February 2020 after adding 300 last month vs. jobs growing 2,600 monthly in the recovery.

Business services: 100% of pre-coronavirus jobs with 327,700 workers. That’s up 800 from February 2020 after adding 200 last month vs. jobs growing 1,500 monthly in the recovery.

Construction, real estate, finance: 97% of pre-pandemic staffing with 196,100 workers. That’s up 5,600 from February 2020 after adding 2,500 last month vs. jobs growing 600 monthly in the recovery.

Government: 97% of pre-pandemic staffing with 162,800 workers. That’s up 5,200 from February 2020 after adding 1,100 last month vs. jobs growing 100 monthly in the recovery.

Arts, entertainment and recreation: 95% of pre-pandemic staffing with 52,100 workers. That’s up 2,500 from February 2020 after adding 1,100 last month vs. jobs growing 500 monthly in the recovery.

Retailing: 95% of pre-virus employment with 141,300 workers. That’s up 6,800 from February 2020 after dropping 200 last month vs. jobs growing 900 monthly in the recovery.

Manufacturing: 95% of pre-virus employment with 151,000 workers. That’s up 7,400 from February 2020 after adding 100 last month vs. jobs growing 300 monthly in the recovery.

Hotels: 83% of pre-virus employment with 21,800 workers. That’s up 4,600 from February 2020 after adding 400 last month vs. jobs growing 300 monthly in the recovery.

PS: Bosses in the four-county Southern California region in June had 7.83 million workers —  66,700 below February 2020 or 99.2% of pre-pandemic employment.

Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com

Source: Orange County Register