SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California's unemployment rate fell to 4.4 percent in January - the lowest figure since 1976.
That's even lower than the previous record low of 4.5 percent that was set in December.
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However, it's a fraction higher than the national unemployment rate for January, which was 4.1 percent.
Figures released Wednesday by the state Employment Development Department show that California employers added 35,500 non-farm payroll jobs in January. About 17 million Californians held such jobs.
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The largest increase was in the construction sector, followed by trade, transportation and utilities.
California has gained nearly 3 million jobs in an economic expansion that began in 2010.
California's unemployment rate fell to 4.4 percent in January - the lowest figure since 1976.