San Francisco Unemployment Numbers Holding at 'Crappy'

Dorothea Lange

Good news, pal! It could be worse...

​As we've said before, losing by less is the new winning. So, by that measure, San Francisco's just-released unemployment numbers are cause for celebration.

Yes, the city's unemployment rate grew from 9.6 percent in June to 9.7 percent last month. But that's not necessarily the most horrible of news. "It is typical for there to be a seasonal increase in the unemployment rate in all the major parts of the Bay Area," notes Ruth Kavanagh, a labor market consultant with the state's Employment Development Department.

Typically, this time of year witnesses a jump in unemployment of 0.2 percent, largely based on part-time workers such as students heading out of the workforce. And, this year, it's only gone up by 0.1 percent. So -- break out the party hats!

Kavanagh also notes that city retailers added 600 jobs between June and July, which is double the 20-year average. Again, not bad news.

And, for anyone searching for that silver lining -- which is certainly something to do when you're unemployed and have time on your hands -- San Francisco County's unemployment rate of 9.7 percent is the sixth-lowest of the state's 58 counties (The state rate is 12.8 percent; the best-off county is Marin at 8.6 percent; and the hardest-up locale is Imperial at a Gaza-like 30.3 percent).

You can see that oddly engrossing list here: Copy of CA Counties Rankings.xls

Readers with questions about state unemployment -- in the abstract and the concrete of their own personal experience -- are invited to peruse the EDD's website.

Follow us on Twitter at @TheSnitchSF and @SFWeekly