The unemployment rate dropped in Kern County in August to 12.8 percent. The figure is down from a revised 13.6 percent in July, the Employment Development Department reported in a report released Friday.
A year ago, unemployment hovered around 14 percent, according to EDD.
"I would say it because it looks like most of the gain was in farm, so it's a normal seasonal trend," said the EDD's Sheila Urdesich. "Kern County has done really well, has had a tremendous year."
Kern County added about 7,000 farm jobs in August, EDD stats show. Still, the unemployment rate remains high in areas like Arvin (33.1 percent) and Delano (32.0 percent), compared to Bakersfield (8.9%).
