California gains 45,800 payroll jobs; unemployment dips to 10.1%

The state’s labor market showed continued strength in October as California employers added 45,800 nonfarm jobs to payrolls last month, outpacing the U.S. growth rate.

The unemployment rate dipped slightly to 10.1% from 10.2%, according to data released Friday by the state Employment Development Department.

In addition, September’s job gains were revised upward to 32,000 jobs compared to the 8,500 originally reported last month.

Quiz: How much do you know about California’s economy?

With the holiday shopping season kicking off next week, the sector with the largest over-the-month increase was trade, transportation and utilities, which as a group added 24,700 jobs.

Educational and health services posted the next largest gain, 11,400 jobs. Professional and business services, which includes white-collar jobs such as accountants and lawyers, added 9,000 jobs.

Quiz: The week in business

California employers shed jobs in four industries, with the steepest losses in government, which shrank by 8,600 jobs.

Over the year, California has added 295,300 nonfarm jobs. The unemployment rate has fallen 1.4 percentage points since October 2011.

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