L.A. adds jobs, lowers jobless rate

The county gained 24,300 payroll positions in February, even as the state overall showed a loss of 20,400 jobs. The state and county employment numbers sometimes don't run in sync, especially with the economy going through a kind of zig-zag period between recession and recovery. The unemployment rate, meanwhile, fell slightly to 12.4 percent from 12.5 percent in January. The statewide unemployment rate was unchanged at 12.5 percent. All in all, a status quo report, although the picture might change next month when the impact of the government's hiring of census workers kicks in.