Bay Area Unemployment Slightly Higher As California Jobless Rate Hits 6-Year Low
SAN JOSE (CBS SF) - Unemployment rates in the Bay Area have risen slightly, bucking a statewide trend showing California's unemployment rate falling to its lowest rate in six years.
The state Employment Development Department said Friday that California gained 24,200 jobs during the month, lowering the unemployment rate to 7.4 percent in June. The last time the unemployment rate fell below 7.4 percent was in July 2008.
Meanwhile in the Bay Area, the jobless rate in all nine Bay Area counties was up in June.
Marin County had the lowest unemployment rate in the Bay Area in June at 4 percent, which was up from 3.8 percent in May, while Solano County had the highest unemployment rate at 6.7 percent, up from 6.6 percent in May.
Jobless rates in other Bay Area counties were:
- Alameda up to 5.8 percent from 5.6 percent
- Contra Costa up to 6 percent from 5.8 percent
- Napa up to 4.7 percent from 4.5 percent
- San Francisco up to 4.5 percent from 4.4 percent
- San Mateo up to 4.2 percent from 4.1 percent
- Santa Clara up to 5.4 percent from 5.2 percent
- Sonoma County up to 5.3 percent from 5 percent.
Statewide, education and health services posted the largest increases, adding a total of 12,200 jobs for the month, while construction posted the biggest loss, with 9,500 fewer jobs.
California's jobless rate remains above the national average of 6.1 percent.
A federal survey of households shows that more than 300,000 jobs have been added since last June, although about 1.4 million people remain unemployed.
Unemployment figures also do not include people who have stopped looking for work.
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