San Francisco Unemployment at 8.3

State jobless rate at 25-year high

California's unemployment in February was the highest in 25 years. February not seasonally adjusted number for the state stood at 10.9%. San Francisco- 8.3% with a total of 37,000 people out of work. The following are other Bay Area counties: Marin-6.8%, San Mateo-7.6% Alameda-9.7%, ContraCosta-9.3%, Santa Clara-9.9%, Solano-10.4% and Sonoma-9.1%

Additional California unemployment rates: Los Angelos-11.0%, Sacramento-10.7%, and San Diego-8.8%.

Healthcare and education are the only sectors where payrolls have grown 1.8% since February 2008. Even those 2 sectors lost 4,500 jobs between January and February.

SF Chronicle-03/20/2009