Unemployment rate drops across tri-city region

Construction workers install fence posts on a new horse and walkers trail that begins at the Glendale Narrows Riverwalk in Glendale and goes along Bette Davis Park in L.A. in March.

May 17, 2013 12 AM PT

Unemployment rates continued to drop in the tri-city area last month, boosted by job gains in trade, transportation and utilities, as well as leisure/hospitality and residential construction.

However, after seeing some strengthening the past few months, the motion picture and sound recording industries reported some losses.

The unemployment rates in Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena each dropped 0.5% to 7.5%, 8.1% and 7%, respectively, according to data released Friday by the California Employment Development Department.

Statewide, the unemployment rate declined to 9%, from 9.4% in March — a significant improvement from 10.7% in April 2012.

San Marino, South Pasadena, La Cañada Flintridge and the La Crescenta-Montrose area each reported 0.3% dips in their jobless rates, coming in at 4.2%, 4.6%, 3.5% and 4.5%, respectively.

-- Mark Kellam, mark.kellam@latimes.com

Follow on Twitter: @LAMarkKellam.