Kern's jobless rate rose to 14.1 percent in January
By THE BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN
New state data show Kern County's unemployment rate jumped from 12.9 percent in December to 14.1 percent in January as employers shed 13,200 jobs in categories from farming and retail to management and education.
January numbers released Friday morning by the state Employment Development Department nevertheless represent improvement over January 2012, when the county's jobless rate stood at 15 percent.
California's unemployment rate was 10.4 percent in January, and the nation's was 8.5 percent, the department reported.
Some of the county-level employment changes appear to be seasonal, considering what industries were affected most.
Proportionately, Kern's biggest losses were in management (17.2 percent, or 500 lost jobs), farming (14.7 percent, or 8,000 jobs), state-level education (14.3 percent, or 200 jobs), clothes and clothing accessory retailers (13 percent, or 300 jobs) and department stores (10 percent, or 500 jobs).
Nineteen of California's 58 counties had unemployment rates higher than Kern's in January. The state's highest rate was Colusa County's 27.7 percent, which represented 3,240 jobless. By comparison, Kern had 55,900 workers without a job that month, the state reported.
Los Angeles County's unemployment rate was pegged at 10.9 percent, while Fresno County's was 16 percent. San Luis Obispo County's jobless rate was 7.5 percent, and Inyo County's was 9.6 percent, the state reported.
Facebook
Twitter
Mobile
RSS
Most CommentedMost Popular
The death of Bakersfield father of four David Sal Silva immediately following his apparent beating Wednesday by Kern County law enforcement officers raises questions that have been asked in Bakersfield many times before -- questions about the use of deadly force by police.
Responding to what he called a case that “has consumed the media and our community,” Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood said Tuesday he has asked the FBI to conduct a “parallel” investigation into the death of Bakersfield father of four David Sal Silva, who died May 8 after he was beaten by...
Two cellphones confiscated last week from witnesses to the in-custody death of David Sal Silva were returned Wednesday to the attorney representing the witnesses.
About two dozen protesters stood in front of Kern County Superior Court next to the Liberty Bell Thursday morning to make a statement about police brutality.
Blood stains are still visible on the sidewalk at the corner of Flower Street and Palm Drive, where a Bakersfield man struggled with as many as nine officers and later died this week.
The death of Bakersfield father of four David Sal Silva immediately following his apparent beating Wednesday by Kern County law enforcement officers raises questions that have been asked in Bakersfield many times before -- questions about the use of deadly force by police.
A war of words erupted Friday over video footage taken of David Sal Silva’s deadly encounter with law enforcement officers.
Responding to what he called a case that “has consumed the media and our community,” Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood said Tuesday he has asked the FBI to conduct a “parallel” investigation into the death of Bakersfield father of four David Sal Silva, who died May 8 after he was beaten by deputies.