San Benito County’s unemployment rate was at 6.9 percent in March as the figure remained high during the winter months when the agriculture industry traditionally slows, according to the California Employment Development Department.
The county had the 6.9 percent rate with an estimate of 2,200 people filing for unemployment. That was up from 6.7 percent in February.
San Benito County’s jobless rate in March 2018 was estimated at 6.1 percent.
Winter months traditionally include a big unemployment spike due to seasonal shifts in agriculture, the No. 1 industry here.
The overall state rate for March was relatively steady at 4.3 percent. That ticked up from 4.2 percent in February. The state rate at 4.3 percent in March 2018 as well.
The U.S. jobless rate was at 3.8 percent with 196,000 non-farm jobs added. That was the same percentage as February’s 3.8 percent figure, according to the EDD.
The rate for last month was devised through a federal survey of 5,100 California residents.
