LA County And State Unemployment Rates Drop

SACRAMENTO (CBS/AP) — California's unemployment rate has dropped below 12 percent for the first time since August 2009 — another positive sign for the nation's economy.

The numbers for April released Friday by the state Employment Development Department show the jobless rate at 11.9 percent. That's the fourth month in a row the jobless rate has declined for the most populated state.

California also showed an increase of about 8,900 payroll jobs for the month.

Nationwide, unemployment rates fell in April in 39 states.

In Los Angeles County, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 12.1 percent in April, down from a revised 12.3 percent in March, the state Employment Development Department reported.

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