Jobs and Joblessness Rise In East Bay

The number of jobs and the number of people who officially don't have them both rose last month in the East Bay.

The unemployment rate for the region in March increased to 9.8 percent, up from 9.6 percent in February.

However, the region also added 6,200 jobs. The biggest gains came in education and health services, which saw an increase of 2,700 jobs, and leisure and hospitality, which rose by 2,400.

Decreases were seen in the construction industry with a loss of 500 jobs and professional business services, which dropped by 300 jobs.

Cindy Sugrue, a labor market consultant with the state Employment Development Department, said the main reason the unemployment rate ticked up while jobs increased is more people re-entered the labor market.

The unemployment rate in Contra Costa County was 9.9 percent in March. In Alameda County, it was 9.7 percent. Both were slightly higher than February.

City jobless rates are estimated, based on the county numbers, so most cities saw slight increases in their unemployment numbers.

In the Tri-Valley, Livermore was listed at 6.3 percent, Dublin at 5.9 percent and Pleasanton at 4.9 percent.

Oakland still has the highest jobless rate in the county at 14.7 percent.

Right behind it were the unincorporated areas of Cherryland at 14.1 percent and Ashland at 11.2 percent.

Nearby, San Leandro recorded a 9.6 percent rate while San Lorenzo had a 7.2 percent. Castro Valley notched a rate of 5.8 percent.

Berkeley had a 9.2 percent jobless rate while Albany was 4.1 percent and Alameda sits at 6.7 percent.

Newark posted a 9 percent rate while Union City had a 9.1 percent rate.