The job losses returned to California in a significant way last month. Some 38,800 payroll jobs disappeared, according to figures released today by the state Employment Development Department.

The state's unemployment rate clocked in at 12.4 percent for December. That was unchanged from the revised November figure.

Analysts had been hoping that the job losses in California had mostly run their course.

Sacramento area unemployment fell two-tenths of a point from November's revised figure. The rate for December was 12.3 percent, even though the region lost 3,700 jobs during the month.

In the past 12 months, the state has lost 579,400 jobs. The region has lost 40,900.

In the Sacramento area, state government shed 1,500 jobs, construction fell by 1,300 and the leisure and hospitality sector cut 900 jobs.