BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The numbers are in. The latest jobs report in Kern County shows unemployment dropped from 10.2% in March 2024, to 9.3% in April 2024. That means thousands of new jobs.

“More specifically, an estimated 8,000 more people reported being employed in April compared to March,” said Rosendo Flores, with the Employment Development Department.

Rosendo Flores has been a researcher for California’s Employment Development Department for 10 years. He said Kern’s job trend shows steady seasonal impacts.

“From April 2023 to April 2024 total employment in Kern County continued to grow, increasing payrolls to about 13,300 jobs,” said Flores.

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According to the EDD, the uptick in 13,000 available jobs are for farm workers. For the year, mining, logging and construction is down 1,000 jobs. Trade, transportation, and utilities showed 200 more available jobs from March 2024 to April 2024, but dropped 1,300 jobs for the year.

“The Central Valley’s unique in the sense that there’s a lot of seasonal industries,” said Flores.

The data shows retail businesses lost 700 positions from April 2023 to April 2024. The 99 Cent Only store is closing 371 locations in 4 states. There are only 2 open stores left in Bakersfield, located on Mt. Vernon and White Lane, but they’re closing in 3 or 4 days.

“Here in the valley, all the ebbs and flows of employment are fairly standard,” said Flores.

Restaurants and other eating places dropped 3.6% with a loss of 900 jobs from April 2023 to April 2024.

Red Lobster announced the closure of dozens of locations including 5 in California, but not the location in Bakersfield off of Rosedale Highway, according to an employee.

Food services and drinking places dropped 4.3% or lost 1,100 available jobs. The owner of the Weinerschnitzel on White Lane said none of her employees have been fired, but their hours have been reduced.

Rosendo Flores said local government saw the largest increase in the employment rate with 2,700 more available jobs in April 2024 compared to April last year.

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