Kern County Unemployment Dips to 8.4% in August as Health and Education Jobs Grow

BAKERSFIELD, CA — Kern County's unemployment rate slipped to 8.4% in August, down from 8.6% in July and 8.7% a year earlier, according to preliminary figures from the California Employment Development Department. The headline number is still among the highest in the state, but underneath it the jobs picture is shifting, and health care and education are doing most of the lifting.

About 379,300 Kern County residents were working in August, and payrolls tied to health and education grew 3.5% over the year while office and finance jobs shrank.

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📍 Kern County's August Jobs Report at a Glance

Unemployment rate, August 2026	8.4% (preliminary, not seasonally adjusted)
July 2026	8.6%
August 2025	8.7%
Labor force	414,000
Employed residents	379,300
Unemployed residents	34,800
Nonfarm payroll jobs	300,100, down 0.1% from a year earlier
Fastest-growing sector	Education and health services, up 3.5% over the year

What the August Unemployment Numbers Say

The EDD's August report, released September 18, puts Kern's labor force at 414,000 people. Statewide, California's seasonally adjusted rate held at 5.1%. County rates aren't seasonally adjusted, so that comparison is rough, but the gap is a familiar one. Kern has run between 8% and 10% all year, peaking at 9.5% in February before easing through spring.

For perspective, Imperial County posted the state's highest August rate at 21.9% and San Mateo the lowest at 4.0%. Farm seasons, oil field cycles and the school calendar all push Kern's number around month to month.

Where Kern County Jobs Grew, and Where They Shrank

Payroll data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for the Bakersfield-Delano metro, which covers all of Kern County, shows total nonfarm jobs essentially flat over the year at about 300,100. The mix is what changed.

Education and health services: 59,700 jobs, up 3.5% from August 2025, or roughly 2,000 more positions. This is the clearest growth lane in the county.
Leisure and hospitality: 30,000 jobs, up 0.7%.
Mining and logging: 6,700 jobs, unchanged from a year ago. The oil patch isn't growing, but it isn't shedding jobs this year either.
Professional and business services: down 3.5%, roughly 1,000 fewer jobs.
Financial activities: down 5.1%.
Manufacturing and construction: down 1.4% and 0.6%.

Month to month, total payrolls climbed by about 4,100 from July to August. Government accounted for most of it, rising from 65,100 to 68,500 as payrolls rebounded with the new school year. That's a seasonal swing, not a hiring spree, but it means school employers across the county are staffing up right now.

🔎 Where to Aim Your Kern County Job Search

If you're job hunting from Rosedale to east Bakersfield, follow the growth. Hospitals, clinics, home health agencies and schools are adding people while office and finance roles tighten. Skilled trades are worth a look too: construction payrolls are close to last year's level, and Ross Stores' planned distribution center in southeast Bakersfield points to more building ahead.

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Kern County Unemployment FAQ

What is Kern County's unemployment rate right now?

The preliminary August 2026 rate is 8.4%, per the EDD. It was 8.6% in July and 8.7% in August 2025. The state's next monthly update will cover September.

Why is Kern County's unemployment rate so much higher than California's?

Kern's economy leans on agriculture, oil and seasonal work, which swing more than office-heavy coastal economies. The county rate also isn't seasonally adjusted, while the 5.1% state figure is, so part of the gap is how the numbers are measured.

Which industries are hiring in Bakersfield?

Education and health services grew fastest over the past year, adding roughly 2,000 jobs. Leisure and hospitality also grew slightly. Professional services, finance and manufacturing lost ground.

Are oil field jobs coming back in Kern County?

Not yet. Mining and logging, the category that holds oil and gas extraction, sat at 6,700 jobs in August, unchanged from a year earlier.

Where can I find a job fair in Bakersfield this fall?

Our Kern County fall job fair guide tracks hiring events through late October and is updated as new ones are announced.

Put Kern County's Growing Sectors to Work for You

Numbers like these are a map. Create a free LocalJobPage profile so Bakersfield employers can find you, then browse every open job in Kern County and set alerts for the fields that are actually adding people.

Employers: Hiring nurses, aides, teachers or tradespeople in Kern County? Post your openings on LocalJobPage and reach local candidates.