The California Employment Development Department says Kern County oilfields are hiring again, though not at a fast pace.

Rosendo Flores is a labor market consultant with the state and says he wasn’t expecting June’s oil and gas increase.

“It’s the first time in 10 months that the sub-sector has added jobs – and that 100 jobs last month,” he said.

Strong growth in non-farm employment pushed unemployment to 9.9 percent last month, down from 10 percent in May.

– Anthony Pollreisz