Solano Has Bay Area's Highest Unemployment Rate

By Bay City News Service

California's unemployment rate decreased in March, according to a report released today by the California Employment Development Department.

The state's jobless rate dropped to 12 percent in March, compared to 12.1 percent in February, officials said.

In the Bay Area, Solano County had 12.3 percent unemployment, the highest rate in the region. Marin County had the lowest unemployment rate in the Bay Area at 8 percent.

The national unemployment rate was 8.8 percent in March.

The state's unemployment rate is based on a federal survey of 5,500 California households and does not include agricultural jobs.