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Research Facts & Figures
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Economic Forecasts & Updates
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September 2009 Monthly Analysis
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Bay Area Employment
BAY AREA EMPLOYMENT
BAY AREA UNEMPLOYMENT
According to the California Employment Development Department, the unemployment rate in the East Bay was 11.5 percent in August 2009, up from a revised 11.4 percent in July 2009, and above the year-ago estimate of 6.7 percent. This compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 12.1 percent for California and 9.6 percent for the nation during the same period. The unemployment rate was 11.7 percent in Alameda County, and 11.2 percent in Contra Costa County.
San Francisco’s unemployment rate was 9.5 percent in August – up slightly from July, but significantly higher than the August 2008 estimate of 5.4 percent. The unemployment rate in San Jose rose to 12 percent in August, up from from a revised 11.8 percent in June, and up from 6.4 percent in August 2008.
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) lost 7,100 workers, falling to 1,308,800 in August 2009. San Francisco’s labor force lost 4,400 workers, falling to 972,000, and in San Jose the number of workers fell 3,000 to reach 922,600. In a year-over-year comparison, the East Bay and San Jose regions continued to see gains in labor force numbers, while San Francisco saw a small decrease. The East Bay had 2,100 more workers in August 2009 than in August 2008, San Jose added 5,600 workers and San Francisco lost 10,700 workers.
BAY AREA EMPLOYED RESIDENTS
Between July and August 2009, the number of employed residents (employed persons who reside within the region) fell 8,000 in the East Bay; 5,300 in San Francisco, and 4,700 in San Jose. When compared to August 2008, a year-over-year comparison showed the East Bay with 60,900 fewer employed residents, San Francisco with 49,600 fewer and San Jose with 46,300 less.
BAY AREA PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT
Between July and August 2009 the East Bay lost 3,700 payroll jobs (number of jobs located in the specified region, not including those who are self-employed), while San Francisco lost 2,800 and San Jose lost 1,700. Since August 2008, the East Bay has lost 45,800 jobs, San Francisco has lost 50,000 and San Jose has lost 45,400. A detailed description of East Bay payroll employment by sector follows in the next section.
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