TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) — The unemployment rate across the state of California is up compared to this time last year.
It currently sits at 5.3% and is among the highest in the nation.
In Tulare County, that number has skyrocketed to 10.3%.
That’s a number Community Services Employment Training is trying to tackle.
“CSET operates just a myriad of programs such as public works, urban forestry, senior services. We have recycling services. We. We’re just opening a navigation center, which is a low barrier, a homeless shelter,” said Craig Plath with the Workforce Development Programs at CSET.
Plath has been working at CSET for 14 years and says these unemployment numbers are some of the highest he has ever seen.
“We have a lot of seasonal employment because it’s a big ag community. So that affects the unemployment rate seasonally,” explained Plath.
“There have been some closures in retail, and we’ve seen some restaurant closures as well in the food industry. The fast …