hiring.jpgState and Bay Area jobless rates declined slightly in May, according to a report released today by state employment officials.

The state’s unemployment rate in May was 10.8 percent according to the California Employment Development Department, down slightly from April’s 10.9 percent rate. That number is down from 11.9 percent in May 2011.

In the Bay Area, Marin County, which has the lowest jobless rate in the state, dropped to 6.3 percent from April’s 6.4 percent.

Solano County, which has the highest unemployment rate in the Bay Area, also saw a decline, from 10.2 percent in April to 10.1 percent in May.

San Francisco’s unemployment rate was 7.4 percent in May, the same as in April.

Alameda County was at 9.1 percent in May and Santa Clara County at 8.2 percent.

The national unemployment rate, however, went up slightly in May to 8.2 percent from 8.1 percent the previous month.

The state’s unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,500 households around California.

Sara Gaiser, Bay City News

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