May 2008 Monthly Analysis
> Employment
BAY AREA UNEMPLOYMENT
According to the California Employment Development Department, the unemployment rate in the East Bay was 5.3 percent in
April 2008, down from a revised 5.5 percent in March 2008, but above the year-ago estimate of 4.4 percent. This
compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 6.1 percent for California and 4.8 percent for the nation during the
same period. The unemployment rate was 5.2 percent in Alameda County and 5.3 percent in Contra Costa County.
Unemployment rates in the Bay Area’s other metro areas also decreased between March and April. San Francisco’s
unemployment rate dropped to 4.2 percent, from 4.4 percent in March, while unemployment in San Jose fell from 5.2
percent in March to 4.2 percent in April. Though unemployment fell between March and April, in a year-over-year
comparison with April 2007, rates are up in all three Bay Area metro areas.
BAY AREA LABOR FORCE
In a month-over-month comparison, the East Bay’s labor force (number of individuals currently employed or actively
seeking employment) decreased by 3,700 workers to reach 1,282,200. San Francisco’s labor force gained 200 workers to
reach 961,600, and in San Jose the number of workers fell 1,900 to reach 889,600. In a year-over-year comparison, Bay
Area regions continued to see gains in labor force numbers. The East Bay had 15,200 more workers in April 2008 than in
April 2007, San Francisco gained 26,800, and San Jose added 20,300 workers.
BAY AREA EMPLOYED RESIDENTS
Between March and April 2008, the number of employed residents (employed persons who reside within the specified
region) fell 500 in the East Bay, while in San Francisco there were 2,200 more employed residents and in the San Jose
metro there were 700 more. When compared with April 2007, a year-over-year comparison showed the East Bay with 3,300
more employed residents, while San Francisco gained 21,400 and San Jose gained 13,100.
BAY AREA PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT
Between March and April 2008, the East Bay lost 1,500 payroll jobs (number of jobs located in the specified region, not
including those who are self-employed), while San Francisco gained 700 and San Jose gained 1,100. In a comparison with
April 2007, the East Bay’s payrolls shrunk by 5,800 jobs, while San Francisco gained 22,600 and San Jose gained 11,700.
A detailed description of East Bay payroll employment by sector follows in the next section.
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