Orange County continued to lose jobs last month at par with the worst of the 1990s recession. In the month of June, the county lost 70,800 non-farm jobs versus a year earlier, a decline of 4.7 percent, according to the state Employment Development Department. With this June marking the fifth straight month of 70,000-plus yearly job losses.

In June, Orange County's unemployment rate rose to 9.2 percent, up from a revised 8.8 percent in May and 5.2 percent a year earlier. However, last month's total of 70,800 lost jobs was better than the 71,100 and 72,600 jobs lost on a yearly basis in May and April respectively. Reportedly, the county's employment remained unchanged at 1.4 million workers from May to June.

Yearly job losses in Orange County were led by the trade, transportation and utilities segment, which was down by 18,900 jobs in the past 12 months, due to cuts at retailers.

Construction segment lost another 12,200 jobs, followed by professional and business services, with 11,600 jobs, led by the loss of administrative and support services positions, including employment agencies.

However, on a monthly basis, the county witnessed a gain of 1,000 jobs in professional and business services from May to June, led by administrative and support services sector, which added 600 jobs. Government jobs also declined 1,400 positions from May to June, because of the cuts at schools owing to the summer recess and state budget crisis.

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