Unemployment Rate Drops Significantly

After a disappointing March, the unemployment rate in most East Bay communities decreased significantly in April.

In California, the jobless rate last month fell to 11.7 percent. It was 12.3 percent in March and 12 percent in February.

In Alameda County, the rate fell to 10.3 percent in April, down from 10.8 percent in March and 10.7 percent in February.

In neighboring Contra Costa County, the jobless rate dipped to 10.5 percent, down from 11.2 percent in March and 11 percent in February.

State economic officials said the two counties added 5,500 jobs in April, bringing the total labor force to 945,300.

Trade, transportation and utilities led the way with an addition of 2,400 jobs. Leisure and hospitality rose by 2,000 jobs. Private education and health care increased by 900 jobs.

The hard-hit construction industry also saw a seasonal increase, adding 700 jobs.

The only losses were recorded in manufacturing with 300 fewer jobs in April than in March as well as information services with a loss of 200 jobs.

The drop in unemployment was seen in almost all East Bay communities.

In San Leandro, the jobless rate fell to 10.2 percent, down from 10.7 percent in March and 10.5 percent in February.

Cynthia Battenberg, the city's business development director, said economic activity has been picking up. She said there has been increased interest from investors, brokers and business owners in locating what she called "business friendly San Leandro."

"All the economic indicators are looking up," Battenberg said. "I'm feeling optimistic. There's a lot more activity."

In neighboring San Lorenzo, the unemployment now stands at 7.7 percent, a drop from 8 percent in March and 7.9 percent in February.

The Cherryland neighborhood continues to have the second highest jobless rate in Alameda County, behind only Oakland. The district's unemployment rate did fall to 14.9 percent in April, down from 15.6 and 15.4 percent the previous two months.

In Castro Valley, the jobless rate decreased to 6.1 percent, down from 6.4 percent in March and 6.3 percent in February.

In Union City, the rate fell to 9.7 percent after recording levels of 10.1 percent in March and 10 percent in February.

In Newark, the jobless rate now sits at 9.6 percent, down from 10.1 percent and 9.9 percent the previous two months.

In the Tri-Valley region, Dublin now has an unemployment rate of 6.3 percent, down from 6.6 percent in March and 6.5 percent in February.

Pleasanton's jobless rate is now 5.2 percent, a drop from the 5.5 percent recorded in March and the 5.4 percent in February.

In Livermore, 6.8 percent remained unemployed, a drop from the 7.1 percent and 7 percent registered in the previous two months.

In the nearby San Ramon Valley, San Ramon recorded a jobless rate of 4.4 percent, a drop from 4.7 percent in March and 4.6 percent in February.

Danville recorded a 5.5 percent unemployment rate, down from 6 percent in March and 5.8 percent in February.

In Alamo, the rate was 3.9 percent, a slight improvement from the 4.2 percent and 4.1 percent recorded the previous two months.

Walnut Creek's unemployment rate is 7.1 percent, down from 7.6 percent in March and 7.5 percent in February.

Clayton continues to have the lowest unemployment rate in Contra Costa County at 2.6 percent. That's a slight drop from the 2.8 percent and 2.7 percent record in March and February.

The lowest jobless rate in Alameda County belongs to Albany at 4.4 percent.