The Bay Area bounced back in April from prior job losses with sturdy employment gains, adding thousands of jobs in an upswing that was powered by a big increase in South Bay hiring, a new state report shows.

California managed job gains last month, adding 17,700 positions in April, the state Employment Development Department reported Friday.

The Bay Area gained 4,200 jobs in April, defying predictions by some experts that the gyrations in the federal government’s tariff efforts would throttle hiring activity in the region and statewide. All of the Bay Area and California numbers were adjusted for seasonal variations.

The South Bay added 2,900 jobs in April, making the Santa Clara County-San Benito County region the primary area that fueled the Bay Area’s upswing in hiring.

The East B

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