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Unemployment rate up full percent over last year

The Bakersfield Californian | Friday, Feb 29 2008 12:40 PM

Last Updated: Friday, Feb 29 2008 12:38 PM

Kern County’s unemployment rate rose to 9.9 percent in January, up from 9.4 percent in December and 8.8 percent a year before, according to data released Friday by the state Employment Development Department.

By comparison, California’s unemployment rate in January was 6.3 percent, while the nationwide rate was 5.4 percent. Bakersfield’s unemployment rate in January was listed at 6.8 percent. Across Kern County, the highest unemployment rate was reported to be in Arvin, at 26.7 percent, followed by Delano, at 26.0 percent.

Most of the 11,500 jobs lost countywide between December and January — 8,600 of them — were farm-related, data show. The second-largest category of jobs lost that month was that of trade, transportation and utilities, where 1,000 positions were eliminated. In no main category were jobs created in Kern that month.

In the 12 months ended January, some 5,200 jobs were created across Kern County, with the largest growth category being government jobs, of which 2,000 were added, data show. While most job categories reported new positions in that period, three showed losses, the largest of which was in construction, where 1,600 positions were lost.