Unemployment Drops Slightly in Alameda, East Bay

Despite the region losing 3,300 jobs last month, the unemployment rate in the East Bay dipped in August.

The jobless rate for the region fell to 10.6 percent last month. That was down four-tenths of a percent from July's 11 percent, according to figures released last week by the state Employment Development Department.

Alameda County saw its jobless rate fall from 10.9 percent in July to 10.7 percent in August.

The East Bay had a total of 944,700 employed people last month. That was 3,300 fewer than July.

State economic officials said one reason for the discrepancy in the numbers is the unemployment rate is based on the people who live in a community while the jobs data is based on the businesses in the community. Many people don't work in the towns they live in.

The other factor is students returning to school are no longer counted in the jobless figures, reducing the total labor pool.

The biggest drop in jobs came in the government sector with a decrease of 1,900. Next was education and health services with a drop of 1,300 jobs.

Professional and financial services as well as leisure and hospitality businesses saw slight decreases.

Construction as well as trade, transportation and utilities experienced minor increases. Manufacturing jobs stayed the same.