The county's unemployment rate in October was 12.8 percent, up slightly from a revised 12.6 percent the month before. A year earlier the rate was 8.5 percent. The state's rate was 12.5 percent. All told, it's still bad, but it could have been worse. The separate payroll survey shows that 36,600 jobs were added in L.A. County from a month earlier. Almost 20,000 of those were in government (14,400 in local government), which somebody over at City Hall should be trying to explain. Were these additions required contractually or what? Why are so many folks being hired when local government is basically broke? Job losses came in manufacturing, construction and leisure and hospitality, three industries that have really taken it on the chin this year. Entertainment continues its usual zigzag pattern, this time adding 3,000 payroll spots. Here's the EDD release.