Employment

As reported by the California Employment Department, The unemployment rate in the Oakland-Fremont-Hayward MD remained stable at 4.4 percent in April and May 2007, but above the year-ago estimate of 4.1 percent. This compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 4.9 percent for California and 4.3 percent for the nation during the same period. The unemployment rate was 4.4 percent in Alameda County and 4.3 percent in Contra Costa County.

Unemployment rates in the Bay Area’s other metropolitan areas were also unchanged between April and May 2007, with unemployment remaining stable at 3.8 percent in the San Francisco MD, and 4.4 percent in the San Jose MSA. 

 

In a month-over-month comparison, all three Bay Area regions saw gains in labor force (number of individuals who are currently employed or actively seeking employment). The East Bay gained 1,700 workers between April and May 2007, San Francisco also gained 1,700 workers and San Jose gained 1,200.

In a year-over-year comparison the Bay Area continued to see substantial gains in labor force between May 2006 and May 2007.  The East Bay gained 20,600 workers, San Francisco gained 27,800 and San Jose gained 21,100.

 

Between April and May 2007 all three Bay Area regions saw gains in the number of employed residents (employed persons who reside within the specified region).  In the East Bay there were 1,600 more residents employed in May than in April, in San Francisco 1,500 more, and 1,300 more in San Jose

Between April and May 2007, 1,600 payroll jobs (jobs located within the specified region) were added in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, bringing the total number of payroll jobs to 1,061,600 – the highest May on record since 2001. During the same period San Francisco gained 4,200 jobs and San Jose gained 5,000. 

In a year-over-year comparison with May 2006, the East Bay gained 12,700 payroll jobs, San Francisco gained 27,000 jobs and San Jose gained 21,900.