LA County Unemployment Falls to 4.8% in September as Health and Education Jobs Grow

LOS ANGELES, CA — Los Angeles County's unemployment rate slipped to 4.8% in September as hospitals, clinics and schools kept hiring while restaurants and hotels let go of summer staff. For job seekers from the Valley to the South Bay, the September numbers point to one clear lane: health care and education are where the openings are piling up heading into the holidays.

The county's seasonally adjusted jobless rate fell from 5.0% in August and sits well below the 5.6% of a year ago, and it now runs under the statewide rate of 5.1%.

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What the September Jobs Report Shows for LA County

The figures come from the California Employment Development Department, which released its September data on October 16. Local reporting on the county numbers put the seasonally adjusted rate at 4.8%, down from a revised 5.0% in August and 5.6% in September 2025. That continues a slide that started in the spring: the EDD Labor Market Information Division had the county at 5.5% in April.

Total nonfarm employment in the county dipped by about 4,100 jobs between August and September, to just over 4.5 million. Over the year, though, the county is up roughly 20,300 jobs, a gain of about 0.4%.

Statewide, the EDD's September release held California's rate flat at 5.1%, down from 5.5% a year earlier. The state's own county table, which is not seasonally adjusted, listed Los Angeles County at 4.5%, with about 224,500 residents out of work in a labor force of roughly 5.03 million.

💼 Health Care and Education Led the Gains

Private education and health services added about 14,200 positions in the county between August and September, the biggest gain of any sector. Part of that is the school calendar. But health care has been the county's steadiest job engine all year, from the big systems around Cedars-Sinai and the Kaiser Permanente medical center on Sunset to the home health agencies and outpatient clinics spread across the San Gabriel Valley and the Antelope Valley.

The same pattern showed up statewide, where private education and health services gained about 8,000 jobs in September. That is the sector to watch if you are switching careers. Many of these roles, such as medical assistant, caregiver, patient services and teacher's aide, take a short certificate or none at all to get started.

Where the Losses Came From

Leisure and hospitality shed about 6,800 jobs in the county over the month, the largest drop of any sector. That is the end of summer showing up in the data: beach concessions in Santa Monica and Long Beach, theme park seasonals and hotel event staff all wind down after Labor Day. Statewide, the sector lost about 9,600 jobs in September.

If you were one of those seasonal workers, holiday retail and warehouse hiring is ramping up right now, and hospitality experience translates directly.

🔎 Where to Aim Your Search This Fall

Follow the hiring. Health care and education posted the strongest gains, and both keep hiring through the winter, when seasonal retail work dries up.

Start here:

FAQ: LA County Unemployment in September 2026

What is the Los Angeles County unemployment rate right now?

The seasonally adjusted rate was 4.8% in September 2026, down from 5.0% in August and 5.6% a year earlier. The EDD's unadjusted county figure for September was 4.5%.

Is LA County's rate higher or lower than California's?

Lower. California's statewide rate held at 5.1% in September, so LA County is now running below the state average.

Which industries are hiring the most in Los Angeles?

Private education and health services added the most jobs in September, about 14,200 in the county. Health care has led the county's job growth for most of 2026.

Why did the county lose jobs if unemployment went down?

The two numbers come from different surveys. The rate measures residents looking for work, while payroll counts track jobs at local employers. A seasonal drop in hospitality jobs pulled the payroll total down by about 4,100 even as the rate improved.

Turn a Better Job Market Into Your Next Offer

A falling jobless rate helps only if you are in front of the employers who are hiring. Create your free LocalJobPage profile so Los Angeles employers can find you, and explore the Career Center for role-by-role guides on pay, training and where to apply.

Employers: Hiring in health care, education or holiday retail this season? Post your openings on LocalJobPage and reach job seekers across Los Angeles County.