Unemployment rate falls across tri-city region

Unemployment rates decreased across the tri-city area last month -- some by as much as 0.6%, state officials reported Friday.

Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena all saw their jobless rates decline by 0.6% in August, coming in at 9.1%, 9.8% and 8.5%, respectively, according to the California Employment Development Department.

Significant hiring gains were reported in construction, accounting services and at colleges. However, hiring at electronics and appliance stores continued to slide, dropping 11.6% last month following a 12% decline in July.

Statewide, the unemployment rate ticked down only 0.1% to 10.6%. While that’s not too much of an improvement, California is in much better shape compared to the 11.9% jobless rate reported in August 2011.

In the La Crescenta-Montrose area, the jobless rate decreased by 0.4% to 5.5%, while it dipped by 0.3% in La Cañada Flintridge to 4.3%.

South Pasadena and San Marino both reported their unemployment rates dropped by 0.3% to 5.6% and 5.1%, respectively.

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-- Mark Kellam, Times Community News

Follow Mark Kellam on Twitter: @LAMarkKellam