California, Bay Area Unemployment Rate Falls

(AP) SACRAMENTO, Calif. - State officials say California's unemployment rate fell to 11.3 percent in November, the lowest it has been since May 2009.

The state Employment Development Department released the new numbers Friday, signaling good news for a state that has been mired in a dismal economy for more than 2 years.

November's rate was down from 11.7 percent the previous month, as the state added another 6,600 jobs.

EDD says California has gained more than 211,000 jobs since the start of 2011.

The state's number follows a national drop to 8.6 percent in November.

Still, more than 2 million people remain out of work in the state.

From the San Jose Mercury News:

In the Bay Area, counties saw their unadjusted rate fall about 0.4 percent to 0.5 percent across the board.

Santa Clara County's unemployment rate decreased from 9.5 percent in October to 9.1 percent in November; Alameda County, from 10 percent to 9.6 percent; and Contra Costa County, from 9.9 percent to 9.5 percent.

San Francisco's rate dropped to 7.8 percent from 8.1 percent, San Mateo's to 7.5 percent from 7.9 percent, and Marin's to 6.9 percent from 7.2 percent.

Here's the pdf from the state Employment Development Dept, which has all the numbers by job sector and county.