Salinas Update: Building, Farming Lead Positive Job Trends

This from D.L. Taylor of the Salinas Californian, , March 29, 2013

Jobless numbers for both Salinas and Monterey County continued to decline during February, according to data released Friday by the state Employment Development Department. It marks the second straight month the local economy has seen jumps in the number of employed residents.

The unemployment rate for Monterey County stood at 13.5 percent in February, down nearly a full percentage point from February 2012’s mark of 14.4 percent, according to the EDD data. That translates into 13,800 more people who had employment last month compared to the same time last year.

In Salinas, which always has a higher jobless rate than the county does, the unemployment rate dropped to 18.7 percent, a dramatic drop of more than 2 percentage points from the same time a year ago.

To read more, please go to http://www.thecalifornian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013303290054&nclick_check=1