Unemployment Decreases in El Cerrito

The jobless rate in the East Bay continues to slowly decline.

The Employment Development Department reported today that the unemployment rate in the East Bay dropped to 8.2.

That was down from 8.4 percent in November and the 9.3 percent recorded in December 2011.

In El Cerrito the unemployment rate in December 2012 was 7.3 percent, slightly better than the county figure, and in Kensington it was a very low 2.9 percent. Richmond had a 13.3 percent jobless rate last month, while San Pablo's was roughly double the county average, at 16.5 percent.

Both Contra Costa and Alameda counties had jobless rates of 8.2 percent last month, down slightly from November.

Overall, the East Bay added 100 jobs to its workforce last month.

There are now 21,500 more jobs in the East Bay than there were a year ago. The total workforce is 979,300.

The big question: Is it easier to find a job than it was a year ago?

Why or why not? Where are the jobs for those who are looking?