Following national and statewide trends, Los Angeles County will feel "more intense pain" for 2009 as the recession drags on, according to a forecast to be released today.
The county's total nonfarm employment will lose 89,000 jobs this year, a drop of 2.2 percent compared to 2008, according to the the study by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp.
As a result, the county's unemployment rate will average 9.8 percent in 2009, up from 7.1 percent last year.
County unemployment will continue to rise to an average of 10.6 percent next year, the study says.
"We are in a very, very major bind, and it's going to be tough to dig our way out of this," said Jack Kyser, chief economist at the LAEDC.
The biggest job losses will come in retailing, with a decline of 25,000 positions.
Manufacturing and construction job losses also will impact the economy with drops of 21,000 and 18,000, respectively.
Government agencies will cut another 5,000 jobs because of budget cuts.
County job losses will continue into 2010, with another 34,900 nonfarm positions cut, or a 0.9 percent decline, the study says.
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