According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bakersfield and Delano’s unemployment rate sits at 8.8 percent. That's almost double the state average and well over the national average. And while that number isn't seasonally adjusted, it is something to take a look at.
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00:00 According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics,
00:02 Bakersfield and Delano hold an
00:03 unemployment rate of 8.8%.
00:05 Now that's almost double the state average
00:07 and well over double the national average.
00:09 Now granted,
00:10 that number isn't seasonally adjusted,
00:11 but it is something to take a look at.
00:14 However, on Thursday,
00:15 the city of Bakersfield tried to
00:16 cut into that with a job fair.
00:18 Could I leave a resume with you guys?
00:21 A lot of times people just don't
00:23 know what they qualify for,
00:24 so being able to come out,
00:26 speak to individuals from the
00:28 departments and see what the
00:29 minimum qualifications are for the
00:31 positions and we are also helping
00:33 with applications, resume writing
00:34 to make people feel more comfortable.
00:37 Hundreds of job seekers descended
00:38 on the Mechanics Bank Convention
00:40 Center Thursday in hopes of
00:42 breaking through the job market.
00:43 Casey said it has been trying
00:45 to do that for nearly a year,
00:47 putting in by her approximation
00:49 200 applications both online and in person.
00:51 She says in her eyes,
00:53 the online aspect of applying for
00:55 jobs can make it more difficult.
00:57 It's been really hard.
00:58 The problem is most of its online
01:00 and you don't get that face to
01:02 face like interaction with somebody,
01:04 so it makes it really complicated
01:06 to kind of like, you know,
01:08 sell yourself.
01:08 So it's been really,
01:10 really hard, though.
01:11 Job seekers noted it can be
01:12 difficult to find a job.
01:14 CSUB Associate Economics Professor
01:15 Doctor Richard Gerhart says the
01:17 current unemployment rate the area
01:18 is facing is not exactly something
01:20 to be worried about just yet.
01:22 Naturally,
01:22 the unemployment rate in Bakersfield
01:24 or in Kern County is probably
01:26 going to hover around 8 or 9%.
01:29 Anything lower than that seems good,
01:31 but there's probably some issues
01:33 underlying very low unemployment
01:35 rates just like there would be
01:37 with very high unemployment.
01:39 However, as the job market
01:41 seems ever more competitive,
01:42 comments notes there are resources
01:44 available from the city to help
01:46 people get jobs. Bring your
01:48 resume and say hey looking for a job.
01:51 Do you have anything open?
01:53 And even if it's not open with us,
01:55 we do job notifications.
01:57 As soon as a position opens,
01:59 we'll send you an email so you
02:01 don't miss that filing deadline.
02:03 But the resume writing we're going to
02:05 start doing more breakout sessions
02:07 throughout the year. Information
02:08 about resources available to help
02:10 job seekers can be found in this
02:12 story on our website in Bakersfield.
02:14 Sam Boyle 23 ABC News connecting you.