The unemployment rate in San Benito County was 8.9 percent in
June
– down from 9.7 percent the same time a year ago.
The unemployment rate in San Benito County was 8.9 percent in June – down from 9.7 percent the same time a year ago.
Among the county’s total workforce of 29,750 potential employees, 27,100 people had jobs as of last month, according to figures released Monday by the state Employment Development Department.
San Benito’s 8.9 percent unemployment rate, though, is still much higher than the state average of 6.3 percent and a national rate of 5.8 percent, according to the EDD. Towns with proportionally large agriculture industry tend to have higher than average unemployment rates.
Seasonal farm workers often cause unemployment to fluctuate through the year. But the rate was also down in January, February, April and May from the year before. In March 2004, a rate of 11.8 percent was up from 11.7 percent in 2003.
San Benito Economic Development Director Al Martinez said other factors also affect unemployment here.
Big business and industrial companies often want to be near a university or major highway, neither of which San Benito offers. Plus, companies will have trouble moving here until the state lifts the building moratorium and allows new construction again, expected in late 2005.
Martinez believes ending the moratorium could create many jobs here.
“I do because we have companies that want to come here now. If this thing goes along too damn long, we may not have companies wanting to come here,” he said.
The largest industries in San Benito in 2004 were government with 3,080 jobs; farm related with 2,770 jobs; and trade, transportation and utilities with 2,770 jobs.
Other surrounding counties’ unemployment rates have also dropped. Santa Clara was at 6.2 percent in June, compared with 8.7 percent in 2003.
