Bay Area job numbers brighter The number of nonfarm payroll jobs, especially in the manufacturing, retail and government sectors, dropped by 17,500, the first such decline since April, according to the Employment Development Department. "California's growth is still tied to the uncertainties in the national economy around fiscal challenges and the slower world economy growth," said Stephen Levy, director of the Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy in Palo Alto. In terms of job creation in 2012, the Bay Area continued to lead the way, gaining 91,400 jobs during the year, a 2.9 percent increase, more than double the national rate.