THE JOBLESS rate in Orange County fell from 4.2 percent in August to 3.6 percent in September.

The unemployment rate dropped sharply in Orange County in September, as nearly 14,000 new jobs were added.

According to the state Employment Development Department, joblessness for the county declined from 4.2 percent in August to 3.6 percent last month. That compares to 4 percent in September of 2016.

The unemployment rate is 4.7 percent for California and 4.1 percent nationally.

Over the past month, Orange County added 13,900 jobs, with the largest number – 9,500 – coming in government jobs, mostly in public education as schools reopened for the fall.

Also adding jobs was construction with 1,700 more employed. The biggest decline came in financial activities, mostly in real estate and rental and losing, where almost 1,000 jobs were lost.