-March 30,2023-
Tulare County jobless rate ticks higher but jobs are up
The unemployment rate in Tulare County was 9.9 percent in January 2023, up from a revised 8.5 percent in December 2022, and above the year-ago estimate of 9.5 percent. This compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 4.6 percent for California and 3.9 percent for the nation during the same period.
Taking a closer look, the jobless rate here has ticked up -not due to fewer jobs being available- but because the labor force has increased since January 2022. The number of people ready to work increased by 4000 or 2% year over year. Jobs filled increased by 2,700 or 1.5%.Both farm and nonfarm jobs are higher this year. Private jobs are up 3.3% and warehouse jobs are higher by 7%.
One sector we see lagging is in hotel occupancy affecting accommodation jobs.
The February “Visit California Lodging Report” says Tulare/Visalia metro area hotel occupancy is down from the year before at 58% compared to 66.7% in February 2022. Other Valley cities were down as well but the LA area and Bay Area were higher.
Kings County unemployment rate climbs but jobs grew
EDD says the unemployment rate in Kings County was 9.2 percent in February 2023, up from a revised 8.7 percent in January 2023, and above the year-ago estimate of 8.9 percent. This compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 4.8 percent for California and 3.9 percent for the nation during the same period.
Taking a closer look, year-over-year unemployment did increase from 5% in February 2022 to 5.4% in February 2023 due to growth in the labor force, more people looking for work. Farm jobs last month in the county were strong year-over-year – up 11% and nonfarm jobs climbed by an impressive 3000 – up 5.1