Overall unemployment rate moved down to 5.6% with the biggest shift in Business Services, which gained 6,600 roles, based on the most recently available information published in September 2021.

Total employment in the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA market declined by 8,075 jobs in August and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 30 bps to 5.6%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 38 bps over the same time to 5.3%.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA unemployment rate is 31 bps above the national rate which is a negative sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 420 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
  • Average wages (per hour) grew in August versus prior month by 4.8% and are up compared to last year at this time in the market.
Month over Month Unemployment Change
Year over Year Unemployment Change
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA Unemployment August 2021

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs grew by 0.6% . Key sectors include:

  • Business Services: 505,400; +6,600
  • Education & Healthcare: 354,700; -600
  • Transportation & Utilities: 333,600; -1,700
  • Government: 286,600; +5,600
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 206,800; +1,400
  • Manufacturing: 141,700; -900
  • Financial Services: 140,500; +400
  • IT & Development: 139,800; +800
  • Construction, Mining: 124,200; +200
  • Other Jobs: 75,900; +1,000
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA Unemployment by Industry August 2021

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through August 2021 (Data published September 2021 and reports created on September 29, 2021).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.