Jobless rate stable in East Bay

Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Jobless rate stable in East Bay
East Bay Business Times

Unemployment rates in the East Bay remained stable last month but are still above where they were a year ago, state labor statistics show.

The jobless rate in the Oakland-Fremont-Hayward metropolitan division, which includes Alameda and Contra Costa counties, was 4.9 percent in October, according to the state Employment Development Department Labor Market Information Division. That compares to 4 percent in October 2006, as well as 4.4 percent nationally and 5.4 percent statewide for last month. Both Alameda and Contra Costa counties had 4.9 percent jobless rates for October.

In the Vallejo-Fairfield metropolitan statistical area, which includes Solano County, the jobless rate remained at 5.3 percent in October compared with 4.3 percent a year earlier.

The Oakland metro area added 3,900 jobs from September to October for a total of 1,064,300, the month labor-market report found. Government, education and health services showed increases, while leisure and hospitality, financial activities, arts, entertainment and recreation lost jobs.

Year over year, employment rose by 8,400 jobs from 1,055,900 in October 2006. Construction had the largest 12-month change of any major industry in the Oakland metro area, cutting 7,200 jobs, according to the report. Public schools led the 16th consecutive month of year-over job gains with 5,000 added, while the educational and health services sector grew by 4,400 positions. Industry employment in the East Bay added 8,400 jobs or 0.8 percent.

Solano County added 700 jobs from September to October for a total 136,800, the report said. Month-to-month comparisons found construction, manufacturing, farm jobs and educational and health services lost jobs, while government, trade, transportation and utilities and professional and business services showed gains.
Year to year, employment in Solano County was up by 2,800 jobs to 136,800 compared to 134,000 in October 2006. The area's construction industry had lost 700 jobs, and financial activities 900, compared with a year earlier. Trade, transportation and utilities gained 2,600 jobs year to year and leisure and hospitality 1,300 jobs.