California Unemployment Rate Drops To 9.4 Percent
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California's jobless rate decreased to 9.4 percent in March, continuing a steady decline as the state pulls itself out of recession.
The rate, reported Friday, represents a drop of 1.3 percentage points from the same period a year ago. California has added 286,000 jobs in the past 12 months.
The state's Employment Development Department reported that California added 25,500 jobs in March. The largest gains came in professional and business services. Construction, information, financial activities, educational and health services, hospitality and government also added jobs.
Trade, transportation and utilities posted the largest decreases, along with mining and manufacturing.
California has the third-highest jobless rate of any state. The national unemployment rate also decreased in March, to 7.6 percent.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
