SF jobs: Healthcare trends up, Tech trends down

Leisure and hospitality, one of the industries most negatively affected by the economy’s initial shutdown in 2020, is also adding more jobs the further removed it is from the start of the pandemic. Primarily driven by food service and performing arts, the industry has added 3,700 local jobs since last year, per EDD. 

However, the industry in San Francisco writ large is still struggling. Despite a marked recovery in tourism and international travel this year, monthly hotel revenue per room night is still only 60% of what it was in 2019, according to the Office of Economic Analysis.

In the information sector, which includes tech, San Mateo and San Francisco counties have lost 11,400 jobs since last year. That sector’s downturn accounted for 80% of the region’s year-over employment decline.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, California’s 5.3% unemployment rate in April is now the highest in the country. Nationally, the number was 3.9%. The San Francisco metro area’s unemployment rate is still lower, sitting currently at 3.4%. 

“I think it’s welcome that we are seeing overall job growth,” said Ted Egan, the city’s chief economist. “However, the overall lack of movement in the office market shows that downtown still has a long way to go.”