Number of state government jobs down 2 percent from year ago

New state data for the second quarter of 2012 has revealed that the state government has shed 863 positions -- more than two percent of its workforce -- from the same period a year ago. Among those affected the most are the Department of Transportation, which lost 298 positions, leaving a workforce of 4,686 people; and the Employment and Economic Development Agency, which shed 218 positions to leave 1,570 employees.