Kern County’s unemployment rate increased roughly one percent in January.

Rosendo Flores is a labor market consultant with the state and says the agriculture industry shed 2,600 jobs during that time-frame, leading all sectors.

“43,000 people in Kern County were out of work, bringing the county’s unemployment rate to 11.1 percent – up from a revised 10 percent in December 2014,” he said.

Only about 100 oilfield jobs were lost in January, despite sharply lower crude prices. Compared to last year, total employment is up 2.2 percent.

– Anthony Pollreisz