Los Alamitos currently enjoys the lowest unemployment rate in the Sun Region, according to the California Employment Development Department.
The state’s unemployment rate was nearly three times that of Los Alamitos.
The EDD recently reported that Los Alamitos has an unemployment rate of 3.6 percent. Rossmoor’s unemployment rate was 4 percent and Seal Beach’s unemployment rate was 4.8 percent. On Friday, March 29, the state employment agency reported that California’s statewide unemployment rate dropped to 9.6 percent from the January rate of 9.8 percent.
That was a 0.2 percent decrease in unemployment from January of this year. The U.S. unemployment rate decreased to 7.7 percent in February.
The figures were preliminary and based on February data. March unemployment figures will be available later in April.
Also keep in mind that unemployment figures are based on city of residence rather than the city in which the employed have jobs. Christine Montana, the general manager of the Rossmoor Community Services District, said that was great news for Rossmoor. However, she pointed out that Rossmoor is a primarily residential community with few businesses.
“I also know it’s a little complicated how they calculate the rates,” Montana said. She said that within close proximity to Rossmoor there are businesses that have full parking lots. She speculated that that contributed to Rossmoor’s lower unemployment rates.
Montana, who has only been working in the Rossmoor area since January, said the people of Rossmoor are employable, based on their level of education.
Seth Eaker, a business consultant and Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce spokesman, attributed the lower unemployment rates to a robust area economy.
“Seal Beach continues to be a highly desirable location for employment, residence and business,” Eaker said.
“The shockingly low unemployment numbers would seemingly be a reflection of a very robust local economy and the Chamber of Commerce is proud to have large, mid-size and small businesses as its members,” Eaker said.
“The Chamber will continue to support any and all activities, initiatives and legislation that supports sensible business growth in our city,” Eaker said.
Sun Region jobless rate better than California’s
All three Sun Region communities are doing better than the state or the nation. All three communities showed a decrease in unemployment rates from January of this year and from February of last year. March figures will be available later this month.
Other cities doing worse
Other Orange County cities weren’t doing so well. Cypress had an unemployment rate of 9.6 percent in February. Huntington Beach had a 5.3 percent unemployment rate. Stanton had a 10.6 unemployment rate. Across the Los Angeles/Orange County border, the city of Long Beach had an unemployment rate of 11.3 percent.
“In January, the state’s unemployment rate was 9.8 percent and in February 2012, the unemployment rate was 10.8 percent,” according to the EDD statement. “The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,500 California households.”
According to the state agency, California gained 41,200 jobs during January.
A downward trend
Los Alamitos’ unemployment rate dropped 0.1 percent from January 2013. Los Alamitos has been seeing steady improvements in the jobless numbers. In February 2012, Los Alamitos’ unemployment rate was 4.4 percent. In February 2011, the rate was 5 percent.
In fact, all three Sun Region communities have been seeing a slow-but-steady decline in unemployment figures.
Rossmoor’s February 2013 rate of 4 percent was better than the February 2012 rate of 5 percent and the February 2011 rate of 5.5 percent.
Seal Beach’s February 2013 unemployment rate of 4.8 percent was a noticeable decrease from the January 2013 unemployment rate of 5.2 percent.
In February 2012, “Mayberry-by-the-Sea” had an unemployment rate of 5.9 percent.
In February 2011, the rate was 6.6 percent.
