Bay City News Service
Unemployment rates declined in many Bay Area counties in December and held steady statewide, according to data released Friday.
California's unemployment rate remained unchanged from November at 9.8 percent, and was distinctly down from the 11.2-percent rate seen a year ago in December, according to the California Employment Development
Unemployment rates declined in several Bay Area counties, which have consistently had the lowest unemployment rates in the state in recent years.
Marin County, which had the state's lowest unemployment rate in December at 5.5 percent, had dropped from 5.8 percent in November.
San Mateo County, which had the second lowest unemployment rate in the state in December at 6.0 percent, declined from 6.3 percent in November.
In San Francisco, the unemployment rate declined from 6.7 percent in November to 6.5 percent in December, the third lowest unemployment rate in the state.
That is the lowest rate the city has seen since 2008, and sharply down from the 9.6 percent rate seen in January 2011, according to a statement
from San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee.
Alameda County also declined, from 8.5 percent in November to 8.2 percent in December, and Contra Costa County showed a slight decline from 8.3 to 8.2 percent.
Solano County, which has consistently had the highest unemployment rates in the Bay Area in recent years, remained unchanged at 9.3 percent, where it has hovered since September.
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