California’s unemployment rate rose to 5.5% in July, but the state and Bay Area saw job gains in July after losses in June. Employers added 15,000 jobs statewide and 2,800 in the Bay Area.
The health care industry drove job growth, with 23,400 new positions added nationwide and 4,800 in the Bay Area. However, the tech industry lost 6,700 jobs in California during July, including 2,500 in the Bay Area.
The Bay Area’s major urban centers showed significant gains: East Bay gained 900 jobs, South Bay and San Francisco-San Mateo region each added 800 positions, while Sonoma County added 400. Marin and Napa counties had smaller changes.
Despite the July job gains, economists warn that the Bay Area still faces a rocky ride through 2025 due to national economic trends and housing shortages. The region lost 17,400 jobs overall this year, with significant losses in tech. To boost growth, building more housing is key, according to think tank president Russell Hancock.
California has lost 9,700 jobs so far in 2025, while the Bay Area has struggled with weaker job performance than the state as a whole.
Source: https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/08/15/bay-area-jobs-tech-economy-work-layoff-hotel-store-restaurant-august