Bay Watch: A Weekly Look into the Bay Area Economy
October 21, 2024
Bay Area added 7,000 jobs in September, accounting for nearly half of all job growth in the state
The Bay Area saw a strong hiring boost in September, adding 6,700 jobs across its subregions and accounting for nearly half of California’s 14,700 new jobs last month, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This jump in hiring follows a summer of minimal growth and suggests an encouraging rebound for the region. However, the region remains down from pre-pandemic levels, as industries like retail and leisure & hospitality continue to lag in recovery.
The San Francisco subregion (which includes San Mateo County) led the area with an increase of 2,800 jobs in September. The East Bay followed closely, adding 2,500 jobs, while the North and South Bays saw smaller increases, adding 300 and 200 jobs, respectively.
Education and health continue to lead region's growth
The majority of job growth in the region over the last four years can be attributed to gains in the healthcare sector (which falls within private education and health). The upswing in hiring job gain from August to September, however, was due to 11,200 new government jobs, boosted by back-to-school hiring in September -- as most public school and university jobs are included in this sector. These seasonal gains reflect typical hiring trends in education, as schools and related services staff up for the academic year, particularly in roles supporting education and school administration. Overall, these seasonal gains were offset by declines in professional services and information sector, leading to a more modest gain of 7,000 net jobs regionwide.