Unemployment Dropped In April

The unemployment rate in Solano County was 10.2 percent in April 2012, down from 11.1 percent in March 2012, according to the state Employment Development Department.

This was under the 11.4 percent unemployment rate the same month last year and was higher than the average unemployment rate for California, which was 10.5 percent. That itself is much higher than the nation's average unemployment rate of 7.7 percent for the same period, according to the EDD.

"We encourage those who are filing for unemployment insurance benefits to do so on-line through our Web site at www.edd.ca.gov. On-line claim filing is the fastest, most convenient way to apply for unemployment benefits, and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week," the EDD said in a press release.

Employment gained in the private sector so far since last year at this time, pushing employment up overall despite a -12.9 percent change in county jobs and a -11.5 percent drop in city government jobs and a -11.4 percent loss of federal government jobs.

Meanwhile two types of administrative support services gained a combined 23.4 percent jobs since this time last year.