Business & Tech

East Bay Unemployment Rate Rises, So Does Number of Jobs

The labor force in the East Bay tops 1 million workers for the first time since December 2008

The East Bay added more than 5,000 jobs in June, but the unemployment rate also rose as people re-entered the labor market.

The jobless rate in the East Bay jumped from 6.7 percent in May to 7.3 percent in June, according to the state Employment Development Department.

Alameda County's jobless rate was 7.4 percent while Contra Costa County registered 7.3 percent.

At the same time, there were 5,300 additional jobs added last month. That brought the East Bay's labor force to 1,000,600.

That's the first time since December 2008 the work force here has topped 1 million. From 1999 to 2008, the East Bay labor force was above 1 million every month.

There were 13,500 more jobs in the East Bay in June 2013 than there were in June 2012.

Cindy Sugrue, labor market consultant for the state EDD, said there are several reasons the jobless rate and the number of jobs rose at the same time.

First, more people re-entered the labor market last month.

In addition, the unemployment rate is based on where people live. The jobs total is based on where businesses are located.

In June, the leisure and hospitality industry added 1,800 jobs. Construction grew by 1,700 jobs while trade, transportation and utilities rose by 1,500 jobs. Retail trade increased by 800 jobs.

Government jobs decreased by 600 during June.

The jobless rates in East Bay cities also went up close to a half of a percentage point.

Here are some of those numbers

Albany 3.1 percent
Pleasanton 3.7 percent
Piedmont 3.8 percent
Castro Valley 4.3 percent
Dublin 4.4 percent
Livermore 4.8 percent
Alameda 5 percent
Fremont 5.3 percent
San Lorenzo 5.4 percent
Newark 6.8 percent
Union City 6.9 percent
Berkeley 7 percent
San Leandro 7.3 percent
Ashland 8.5 percent
Cherryland 10.8 percent
Oakland 11.3 percent


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