Unemployment Drops Slightly In Alameda County Cities

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

The jobless rate for the area fell to 10.6 percent last month. That was down four-tenths of a percent from July's 11 percent, according to figures released today 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.

Contra Costa County's unemployment rate tumbled from 11 percent in July to 10.6 percent in August.

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

San Leandro continues to have double-digit unemployment. The city's jobless rate is now 10.6 percent. That is slightly less than the 10.7 percent recorded in June.

The nearby neighborhood of Cherryland has a jobless rate of 15.4 percent, down from the 15.7 percent in June. The only community higher in the county is Oakland at 16.1 percent.

The Ashland region has a 12.3 percent unemployment rate, down from 12.5 percent in June.

San Lorenzo recorded an 8 percent jobless rate in August, down one tick from 8.1 percent in June.

Union City's jobless rate stands at 10 percent, down from 10.2 percent.

Newark also has a 10 percent unemployment rate, down from 10.1 percent at the beginning of the summer.

Castro Valley unemployment rate dropped to 6.4 percent in August, down from June's 6.5 percent.

Dublin recorded a 6.5 percent, down from 6.6 percent.

Pleasanton's jobless figure is now 5.4 percent, down from 5.5 percent.

Livermore has a 7 percent unemployment rate, down from 7.1 percent.

Other cities include Alameda at 7.4 percent, down from 7.5 percent, and Albany at 4.6 percent, down from 4.7 percent.