Unemployment Rate in LA County and Monrovia Increases

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Los Angeles County increased to 9.9 percent in July, up from a revised 9.7 percent in June, the state Employment Development Department announced today.

The 9.9 percent unemployment rate was below the 11 percent rate in July 2012, according to the EDD.

Monrovia's unemployment rate increased slightly to 9.5 percent. That rate was up from 9 percent in June.

Neighboring cities also saw an increase.  Arcadia's rate for July was 6.2 percent, a hike from 5.8 percent in June, according to state data. Duarte's rate was 7.6 percent, and increase from from 7.1 percent.

In Orange County, where seasonally adjusted numbers were not available, the unemployment rate was 6.5 percent, up from 6.1 percent in June.

California's jobless rate was 8.7 percent in July, up from 8.5 percent in June but down from 10.6 percent in July 2012, according to the EDD.

The comparable estimates for the nation were 7.4 percent in July, 7.6 percent in June and 8.2 percent a year ago.

Total nonfarm employment decreased by 30,400 jobs in Los Angeles County between June and July to reach nearly 3.9 million. The government sector saw the largest drop, losing 42,300 jobs, according to the EDD.

A total of 494,000 people were unemployed in July in Los Angeles County, which has a labor force of more than 4.9 million.

--City News Service

--Local Editor Melanie C. Johnson contributed to this report.