Why is This Important?

A sustainable economy is one that offers a diversified mix of jobs to community members of all skills and backgrounds. Job growth in emerging industries is a critical means for expanding a community's overall economy, and employment spread among many industries reduces the potential impacts of economic
downturns. A healthy, growing economy may lead to improved local government fi nances and increased availability of important public services.

What is a Sustainable State?

A sustainable state is one where the number of jobs and number of people seeking employment is in balance and employment is spread among a diverse mix of industries.

How Are We Doing?

• In 2008, San Mateo County felt the fi rst impacts of the global recession in its job market. For the year, the county (as measured by employees who reported "San Mateo County" as their place of work) lost an estimated 1,700 jobs. It was the fi rst annual job loss in the county since 2004.
• Total jobs in the county have decreased from a peak in 2000 by about 10 percent.
• Job losses were concentrated among manufacturing (1,100 jobs lost), fi nancial services (1,200 jobs lost), and leisure and hospitality (800 jobs lost).
• Despite the overall job losses, a number of sectors reported job growth in 2008. Professional, scientifi c, & technical services showed the largest growth, adding 2,400 total jobs. This industry category includes a wide variety of professions, including legal and accounting services, management and technical consulting professions, and scientifi c research and development. Information services (which include print and online publishing, telecommunications, and software) added 1,200 jobs, and education and health added 500 jobs.

Job diversity
The county continues to have a very diverse job base, with jobs in the county spread widely among several major employment sectors. At least seven different sectors employ at least 20,000 people.

Federal Stimulus
To date, about $18.5 billion in stimulus funds have been appropriated and used in the State of California. As of 10/30/09, the federal government's  Recovery.gov site estimates that approximately $188 million in stimulus funds (mostly in the form of grants and federal contracts) have been awarded within
San Mateo County's borders. These funds support a wide variety of projects, including private industry, local government, and nonprofits. The recipients of this funding estimate that 216 total jobs have been created or saved by the funding availability.