Santa Clarita unemployment down slightly

Hundreds attend the Job & Career Fair hosted by College of the Canyons on Oct. 14. Dan Watson/The Signal
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Unemployment in Santa Clarita dipped slightly to 4.6 percent in October compared to September’s 4.8 percent figure, according to data released Friday by the state’s Employment Development Department.

That non-seasonally adjusted rate reflects 93,700 jobs in the city, from a total local workforce of 98,200, the figures show.

It’s also indicative of a fairly steady regional economy – as the state figure held at 5.3 percent month to month and Los Angeles County dropped one tick, from 5.2 percent to 5.1 percent.

Santa Clarita’s 4.6 percent figure last month represents a distinctly better picture than last October, when the city’s jobless rate was 5.4 percent.

City officials say year-to-year figures, rather than month-to-month, paint a more accurate picture of the overall direction of the economy.

“I think overall Santa Clarita has a very healthy economy right now,” said Denise Covert, an economic development associate with the city. “We’re continuing to see businesses opening, and they’re hiring.’’

One boost to the local numbers, she said, was the opening of a Hobby Lobby store in Saugus.

Burbank and Pasadena – similar-sized cities to Santa Clarita – also held fairly steady in October. The state data show Burbank dropping from 4.3 percent in September to 4.1 percent in October, while Pasadena registered 4.5 percent in October, down one-tenth from September’s 4.6.

Overall, Santa Clarita’s trend line has been slightly downward since July. The city rate was 5 percent in July, 4.8 percent in August and 4.8 percent in September.

County numbers trended at 5.5 percent in July, 5.3 percent in August and 5.2 percent in September.

Statewide, the state data show a 5.9 percent unemployment rate in July, 5.6 percent in August and 5.3 percent in September.

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