Job numbers are slowly on the rise in the state of California. However, things aren't so positive for residents of Los Angeles County. While the unemployment rate in the county hasn't gone up any more, it's still sitting at 11.8 percent in February. This is exactly where the numbers were in January, which can be a bit depressing for those hoping to find a job.

In fact, unemployment has only gone done a half of a percent in a year in L.A. County, with the cities of Long Beach and Los Angeles topping the unemployment rate list for the area. Their rates however around 13 and 14%--way above the national average.

State unemployment however is 10.9 percent, which is down 1 percent from this time last year. If you broaden your look even further, the nation's unemployment rate is doing even better, with the national average at 8.3 percent. More and more jobs are being added to the economy each month. However, job growth is still not on par with job demand, leaving an unsettling number of people out of work.

The majority of job growth in the area is in the entertainment industry, with 11,000 jobs added. Other areas showing growth include business services and private education. The biggest drop was in the retail sector.

It's not entirely clear why Los Angeles is fairing so poorly in unemployment rates. It may have something to do with the kinds of jobs available in the area, but more evaluation will be required for a definitive explanation can be reached. 

(Source)