Unemployment data – 09/28/2008

County	Unemployment rate (Aug 2008)	Unemployment rate (2002 Annual Average)
Alameda	6.90%	6.70%
Contra Costa	6.70%	5.70%
Marin	4.90%	4.90%
Napa	5.30%	4.60%
San Francisco	5.90%	6.90%
San Mateo	5.20%	5.70%
Santa Clara	6.50%	8.40%
Solano	7.40%	5.80%
Sonoma	6.10%	5.10%

Data source: California Employment Development Department

The statewide unemployment rate is 7.6%.  Comparing the data in Santa Clara, San Mateo and San Francisco between now and 2002, the current condition is better than the dot.com crash.  I believe one of the reason is that tech firms are thriving; social netowrking companies are doing good, green energy and bio-tech are still creating job opportunity in the Bay Area.