Community Corner

Unemployment In The East Bay Drops Sharply For The Second Straight Month

By David Mills

The East Bay added a significant number of jobs for the second month in a row.

The state Economic Development Department reported Friday the unemployment rate in the East Bay fell to 6.7 percent in May.

Find out what's happening in Alamedawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In April, the rate was 7.0 percent and in March it was 7.8 percent. In May 2012, the East Bay jobless figure was 8.9 percent.

Contra Costa County's rate was 6.7 percent, down from 7.0 percent in April and 7.8 percent in March.

Find out what's happening in Alamedawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Alameda County's rate was 6.8 percent in May, down from 7.0 percent in April and 7.7 percent in March.

Most East Bay communities experienced similar drops in their unemployment rate. Alameda's unemployment rate was at 4.6 percent.

The East Bay added 4,400 jobs in May for a total workforce of 993,900.

Leisure and hospitality gained 1,800 jobs. Trade, transportation and utilities added 900 jobs. Government employment increased by the same amount. The construction industry added 700 jobs.

The only significant decrease was in the private education and health industry, which lost 700 jobs.


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