County Unemployment Rate Down in December

The adjusted unemployment rate in Los Angeles County decreased in December to 11.8 percent from a revised 11.9 percent in November, according to figures released Friday by the state of California.

Cities like Baldwin Park, Lynwood and South Gate reported a higher unemployment rate than the state average in December, with more than 16,000 people without a job in those cities.

Between November and December, total nonfarm employment in Los Angeles County expanded by about 3,600 jobs to 3.826 million, the largest number since the end of the recession, the Employment Development Department (EDD) reported.

Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 11.1 percent, a drop from 11.3 percent in November. It was 12.5 percent in December 2010.

Despite the drop, California's unemployment figures remain among the highest in the nation.

In December, Baldwin Park had a 14.4 percent unemployment rate, with 4,800 persons without a job, according to EDD figures. 

Lynwood had a 18.2 percent unemployment rate in December, with 5,100 people looking for a job. South Gate's 6,100 jobless residents translated into a 14.7 percent unemployement rate. 

The national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 8.5 percent in December, down from 9.4 percent in the same month last year.

— City News Service; Baldwin Park Local Editor Carlos Aviles contributed to this report.