State Unemployment Rate Rises Slightly

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Los Angeles County held steady at 11.8 percent in March, the same rate as February, the state Employment Development Department announced last week.

The 11.8 percent unemployment rate was below the 12.2 percent rate in March 2011, according to the EDD.

In Orange County, where seasonally adjusted numbers were not available, the unemployment rate was 8.1 percent in March, up slightly from 8 percent in February.

California's jobless rate was 11 percent in March, up from 10.9 percent in February but down from March 2011, when the rate was 11.9 percent, according to the EDD.

The comparable estimates for the nation were 8.2 percent in March, 8.3 percent in February and 8.9 percent a year ago.

A total of 581,000 people were unemployed in March in Los Angeles County, which has a labor force of about 4.9 million.

Statewide, 2.03 million people were out of work, up slightly from the previously month.

Unemployment Numbers in Artesia and Cerritos

Unemployment in Artesia and Cerritos was at 8.6 percent (700 unemployed) and 6.5 percent (1,900 unemployed), respectively, during the month of March, according to EDD. (*Data for city unemployment stats is not seasonally adjusted.)