California Unemployment Rate Drops

California's unemployment rate dropped in April, according to a monthly report released Friday by the state's Employment Development Department.

The state's jobless rate decreased to 11.9 percent in April. It was 12.0 percent in March and 12.4 percent last April, according to the report.

In the Bay Area, Solano County had the highest jobless rate at 11.6 percent, but that was well below the 12.3 percent of residents in the county who were jobless in March. Marin County had the lowest unemployment rate in the region and state at 7.6 percent.

While the state jobless rate dropped, jobless numbers nationwide increased in April. The U.S. unemployment rate was 9.0 percent in April, compared to 8.8 percent in March.

The state's unemployment rate is based on a federal survey of 5,500 California households and does not include agricultural jobs.

Bay City News