Santa Clarita’s jobless rate tumbled to 6 percent in November from 6.3 percent in October thanks in large part to holiday hiring and movie industry activity.

But the improvement of 1.1 percent over the year – from 7.1 percent in November 2011 – is an indicator of a healthier economy.

Santa Clarita hasn’t seen a rate as low as 6 percent since December 2008, when unemployment stood at 5.8 percent.

According to the state Employment Development Department, Los Angeles County’s biggest November job gains came in retail trade, with 16,800 new retail positions more than offsetting a countywide loss of 1,200 wholesale trade jobs. Motion picture and sound recording came in at No. 2 for job growth in the county with 4,900 new jobs.

Throughout L.A. County, a net total of 17,400 workers were added to payrolls during November, pushing down the county’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate to 10.2 percent from a revised 10.5 percent in October.

The state’s seasonally adjusted rate was 9.8 percent in November, down from 10.1 percent in October, while the nation’s rate improved to 7.7 percent in November from 7.9 percent in October and 8.7 percent in November 2011.

Professional and business services posted  the largest month-over decline in Los Angeles County, with a net of 2,800 workers cut from payrolls. Manufacturing was down by 2,200 jobs, and the leisure and hospitality industry cut 1,000.