BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The numbers are in. According to Kern County’s latest employment statistics, the unemployment rate fell from 10.2% in March 2024 to 9.3% in April 2024. This means thousands of new jobs.
“More specifically, an estimated 8,000 more people were reported to be employed in April than in March,” said Rosendo Flores of the Employment Development Department.
Rosendo Flores has been a researcher at the California Employment Development Department for 10 years. He said Mr. Khan’s employment trends show a steady seasonal effect.
“From April 2023 to April 2024, total employment in Kern County continued to increase, increasing the number of employees to approximately 13,300,” Flores said.
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According to the EDD, the 13,000 increase in available jobs is due to farm workers. For the year, 1,000 jobs were lost in mining, logging and construction. Trade, Transportation and Utilities added 200 jobs from March 2024 to April 2024, but lost 1,300 jobs for the year.
“The Central Valley is unique in the sense that we have a lot of seasonal industries,” Flores said.
According to the data, the retail industry lost 700 positions from April 2023 to April 2024. 99 Cents Only Stores is closing 371 stores in four states. There are only two stores left open in Bakersfield, in Mount Vernon and White Lane, but they are scheduled to close in three or four days.
“All the ups and downs of employment are pretty standard here in the valley,” Flores said.
Restaurants and other food and beverage establishments decreased by 3.6% from April 2023 to April 2024, resulting in a loss of 900 jobs.
Red Lobster announced the closure of dozens of stores, including five in California, but not the Bakersfield location off Rosedale Highway, employees said.
Food services and restaurants decreased by 4.3%, with 1,100 jobs lost. The owner of Weiner Schnitzel on White Lane said none of his employees have been laid off, but their hours have been reduced.
Rosendo Flores said municipalities saw the largest increase in employment rates, with 2,700 more jobs available in April 2024 compared to April last year.
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