California adds 11800 jobs, unemployment rate rises slightly to 8.1%

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California's economy added 11,800 net new jobs in March, a meager showing after robust gains the month before, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.

Although the Golden State gained some jobs, the unemployment rate ticked up slightly to 8.1% from 8% a month earlier, according to the data.

The rising jobless rate can be blamed partly on a labor force that grew by 47,700. That is a good sign for the economy because more people were optimistic enough to begin hunting for work again.

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Job gains were spread across five industries, including construction, government and education and health services. Professional and business services reported the biggest increase with 3,100 new positions.

Job losses were posted by three industries -- manufacturing, leisure and hospitality, and financial activities. Financial activities, which has suffered as banks laid off workers after a slowdown in mortgage activity, posted the biggest decline, shedding 2,400 jobs.

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California was among 17 states that saw their unemployment rates go up. Others include Missouri and New Mexico. The western part of the U.S. continues to have the highest regional jobless rate, at 7.2%, while the South can boast the lowest at 6%.

California gained about 6% of the 192,000 net new jobs that were added in the U.S. last month. That is a smaller percentage than the state has often enjoyed in recent years.

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Follow Shan Li on Twitter @ShanLi

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