Community Corner

Unemployment Drops Slightly In Contra Costa Cities

Number of jobs decreases in the East Bay, but the jobless rate still falls. Lamorindans hold onto jobs.

Despite the region losing 3,300 jobs last month, the unemployment rate in the East Bay dipped in the summer month of August.

The jobless rate for the area fell to 10.6 percent last month. That was down four-tenths of a percent from July's 11 percent, according to figures released today by the state Employment Development Department.

Contra Costa County's unemployment rate tumbled at the same rate, falling from 11 percent in July to 10.6 percent in August.

Find out what's happening in Lamorindawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Lamorinda area had relatively low jobless figures with Lafayette recording 3.9 percent, Orinda notching 4 percent and Moraga coming in at 6.3 percent.

Alameda County saw its jobless rate fall from 10.9 percent in July to 10.7 percent in August.

Find out what's happening in Lamorindawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The East Bay had a total of 944,700 employed people last month. That was 3,300 less than July.

The biggest drop came in government jobs with a decrease of 1,900. Next was education and health services with a drop of 1,300 jobs.

Professional and financial services as well as leisure and hospitality businesses saw slight decreases.

Construction as well as trade, transportation and utilities experienced minor increases. Manufacturing jobs stayed the same.

Clayton continues to have the lowest unemployment in the county at 2.6 percent. That was a tick lower than July's 2.7 percent.

Danville's jobless rate fell from 5.9 percent in July to 5.6 percent in August. The community of Alamo had a 3.9 percent jobless rate last month.

Walnut Creek's unemployment rate dipped from 7.5 percent in July to 7.2 percent in August.

San Ramon saw its jobless rate fall from 4.6 percent to 4.4 percent last month.

Concord was the only central Contra Costa city with a double-digit rate. Its jobless rate now stands at 11.4 percent. That is down from the 11.9 percent recorded in July.

Other cities include Martinez at 8.5 percent, Pittsburg at 16.6 percent and Richmond at 16.9 percent.


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