March 17 (Bloomberg) — Payrolls decreased in 27 states in January, showing a slowdown in job growth extended throughout much of the country.

California led the nation with a 31,500 drop in payrolls for the month, followed by Illinois with a loss of 27,600 jobs, figures from the Labor Department showed today in Washington. At the same time, the unemployment rate fell throughout the country as 43 states posted decreases.

A report from the Labor Department this month showed hiring accelerated in February as the world's largest economy began to emerge from the winter chill that had curbed growth earlier in the year. Federal Reserve policy makers, who meet in in Washington this week, are projected to trim their monthly bond buying to $55 billion from $65 billion with the employment situation on the mend.