Community Corner

East Bay Employment Rates Continue Improvement

Data released Friday by the state Employment Development Department shows most East Bay cities, including San Leandro, saw joblessness drop slightly in May.

East Bay unemployment rates slightly improved in May, marking the second straight month of small gains in the area’s job market, according to data released Friday by the state’s Department of Employment Development.

The state’s unemployment rate now stands at 11.7 percent, second highest in the nation behind Nevada. The May figure is down from an adjusted rate of 11.8 percent in April and 12.3 percent in March.

In the Oakland metropolitan area, the jobless figure dipped to 10.2 percent in May, down from a revised figure of 10.4 percent in April.

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

In Alameda County, the jobless rate inched down to 10.2 percent in May, slightly better than the 10.3 percent in April and 10.8 percent in March.

In neighboring Contra Costa County, the unemployment rate ticked downward to 10.3 percent last month, a slight improvement from the 10.5 percent recorded in April and 11.2 percent in March.

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

Employment Development  officials said there were 2,500 jobs created in the East Bay last month, bringing the total work force to 947,300. There were 5,500 new jobs created in April.

The leisure and hospitality sector fared the best with 1,700 new jobs. Private education and health services saw 1,400 new jobs. The government sector, trade, transportation and utilities each created 500 jobs.

The construction industry continues to struggle, losing 700 jobs in May.

In Newark, the unemployment rate fell to 9.5 percent in May, just under the 9.6 percent recorded in April and 10.1 percent in March.

In nearby Union City, the jobless rate dipped to 9.6 percent, down slightly from 9.7 percent in April and 10.1 percent in March.

The Cherryland community continues to have the second highest jobless rate in the county. It now stands at 14.7 percent, down from 14.9 percent in April and 15.6 percent in March.

San Lorenzo's jobless rate is now 7.6 percent, slightly better than the 7.7 percent in April and 8 percent in March.

San Leandro has a 10.1 percent jobless rate, down from 10.2 percent in April and 10.7 percent in March.

Castro Valley's unemployment rate remained the same at 6.1 percent. That is down from the 6.4 percent in March.

The jobless figure in Dublin was 6.2 percent in May, down from 6.3 percent in April and 6.6 percent in March.

Pleasanton's unemployment rate was 5.2 percent in May, the same as April and down from 5.5 percent in March.

Livermore's jobless rate was 6.7 percent, down from 6.8 percent in April and 7.1 percent in May.


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