The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Los Angeles County held steady at 12.6% between September and October, the state Economic Development Department reported recently.

That figure was above the 12.3% rate in October of last year, according to the EDD.

California's jobless rate was 12.4% in October, the same rate as September but up from 12.2% in October 2009, according to the EDD. The comparable estimates for the nation were 9.6% in October, 9.6% in September and 10.1% for October 2009.

Total nonfarm employment increased by 29,900 jobs in Los Angeles County to reach more than 3.7 million. The largest increase was in the government and educational and health services sectors, which gained a combined 24,600 jobs. A total of 617,000 people were unemployed in October in Los Angeles County, which has a labor force of nearly 4.9 million.

Statewide, 2.25 million people were out of work, down slightly from 2.26 million in September.