The dawn of 2010 did not bring good news for Mariposa County’s or California’s workforce. Newly-released numbers show that unemployment grew by nearly a full percent in December, finishing at 12.3 percent.

That means that 1,200 of Mariposa County’s 8,540 workers are currently without jobs. That number is up by 110 from November, 2009. In September, Mariposa County unemployment had fallen to 8.8 percent, down from its peak of 13.3 percent in March, 2009.

The Employment Development Department (EDD) figures show a disturbing trend of joblessness returning after a drop over the summer. Looking at the two-year trend is troubling. In 2007, Mariposa County’s unemployment rate was just 4.8 percent.

The problem appears to be statewide and is particularly tough in neighboring Merced County, where the unemployment rate is again approaching 20 percent. California’s highest unemployment rate remains in Imperial County, where 27.7 percent of the workforce is unemployed.

Overall, the state’s level of joblessness remained nearly steady at 12.1 percent. There are more than 2.2 million people out of work in California today.