Unemployment rates improve across tri-city region

The employment picture got brighter last month in the tri-city region, with some cities seeing unemployment rates drop by nearly 1%, according to the latest state data.

The jobless rates in Glendale and Burbank each declined by 0.9% last month, to 8.9% and 8.2%, respectively, according to statistics released Friday by the California Employment Development Department.

Pasadena wasn’t far behind, with a 0.8% decrease, down to 7.7%.

Mild hiring gains were made in various types of building construction, according to the report. More hiring was seen in groceries, sporting goods stores and financial activities such as credit intermediation, accounting and tax preparation services.

Statewide, the unemployment rate dropped to 10.2%, down from 10.6% in August and 11.7% in September 2011.

The La Crescenta-Montrose area reported a 5% jobless rate, a 0.5% decline; La Cañada Flintridge saw a 0.4% dip, down to 3.9%.

The unemployment rate in South Pasadena declined by 0.6% to 5%.

-- Mark Kellam, Times Community News

Follow Mark Kellam on Twitter: @LAMarkKellam