(KMJ) Fresno County’s jobs picture appears to be improving, albeit slightly.
According to the California Employment Development Department, the unemployment rate in Fresno County dropped to 9.8% in May, down from 10.1% in April.
As a whole, California’s unemployment rate increased slightly in May to 6.4 percent. It’s the first such bump in nearly five years. The rate rose from 6.3 percent in April, but the agency says strong job growth continued in May. California still has higher unemployment than the national rate. That also increased slightly in May, to 5.5 percent.
Here are some stats:
The unemployment rate in the Fresno County was 9.8 percent in May 2015, down from a revised 10.1 percent in April 2015, and below the year-ago estimate of 11.0 percent. This compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 6.2 percent for California and 5.3 percent for the nation during the same period.
Between April 2015 and May 2015, total industry employment increased by 10,800 jobs (up 2.9 percent) to total 381,400. The month-over gain was concentrated in farm employment, which grew by 10,400 jobs (up 21.8 percent), and nonfarm employment rose by 400 jobs (up 0.1 percent).
- Farm employment posted a normal seasonal increase, rising by 10,400 jobs. Alfalfa for hay production was cut and baled. Strawberry and blueberry harvests continued.
- Government registered a net a gain of 400 jobs. Gains in local government (up 600 jobs) and state government (up 100 jobs) offset a decline of 300 jobs in federal government.
- Major industries that edged up by 200 jobs each included: educational and health services, manufacturing, financial activities, trade, transportation, and utilities, and construction.
- On the downside, professional and business services decreased by 1,000 jobs. Professional, scientific, and technical services cut back 700 jobs, and administrative and support and waste services receded by 300 jobs.
Between May 2014 and May 2015, total industry employment increased by 10,800 jobs (up 2.9 percent). Nonfarm employment rose by 10,500 jobs (up 3.4 percent), and farm employment gained 300 jobs (up 0.5 percent).
