Taken from:

Ruth Kavanagh, Labor Market Consultant

Employment Development Department

The unemployment rate in the San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City MD was 7.7 percent in March 2012, up from a revised 7.6 percent in February 2012, but below the year-ago estimate of 8.5 percent.  This compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 11.5 percent for California for California and 8.4 percent for the nation during the same period.  The unemployment rate was 7.0 percent in Marin County, 8.1 percent in San Francisco County, and 7.5 percent in San Mateo County.

Between February 2012 and March 2012, the total number of jobs located in the West bay counties of Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo advanced by 6,200 jobs to tal 965,600.

• Professional and business services rose by 1,700 jobs, much more than the average gain of 400 jobs at this time of year during the prior decade.  Computer systems design and other professional, scientific, and technical services added 900 jobs in March.
• Leisure and hospitality netted 1,500 jobs this month, while other services expanded by 1,300 jobs.  Both of these industry groups recorded gains of more than twice as many jobs as usual at this time of year.
• Government posted a fairly typical seasonal increase of 1,100 jobs.
• Construction recorded a gain of 400 jobs, better than its usual decline form February.
• Financial activities decreased by 400 jobs.

Between March 2011 and March 2012, the total number of jobs in the Est Bay climbed by 27,200 jobs, or 2.9 percent.  Total private nonfarm jobs rose by 3.5 percent.

• Total jobs recorded its highest March figure since 2008.  Leisure and hospitality, as well as private educational and health services, posted their highest March job totals since the industry series began in 1990.  Professional and business services, as well as other services, garnered their highest March job totals since 2001.
• Professional and business services climbed by 13,600 over the year, mostly in professional, scientific, and technical services.
• Leisure and hospitality rose by 4,500 jobs, spread among various components.
• Other services and information each captured at least 3,000 jobs from last March.
• Trade, transportation, and utilities advanced by 1,900 jobs, while construction pulled 1,600 jobs above its year-earlier total.
• Financial activities lost 1,100 jobs, and government decreased by 800 jobs.