Bay Area Loses 4,200 Jobs in February, Ending Six Months of Statewide Gains

The Bay Area lost 4,200 jobs in February while California as a whole lost 3,400 jobs, halting six straight months of statewide employment gains.

Job losses were most severe in the tech and construction industries, although hotels, restaurants, and healthcare added some jobs.

All three major Bay Area metro areas - South Bay, East Bay, and San Francisco-San Mateo - lost jobs.

The statewide unemployment rate rose to 5.3% in February, significantly higher than the record low of 3.8% last August.

Bay Area employment remains 62,000 jobs below its pre-pandemic peak in February 2020, with the region's job rollercoaster likely to continue through 2024.