Boosted by the harvest season, Kings County's unemployment rate dipped to 14.4 percent in May, according to numbers released Friday. That's the second straight month of decline from a March high of 16.6 percent.

But the local rate remains higher than the California rate of 11.2 percent and the national rate of 9.1 percent for the same period.

The rate for Kings County's smaller towns was far worse.

High joblessness persists in Kettleman City (24.7 percent), Avenal (25.1 percent) and Stratford (32 percent), as drought conditions and the recession bite deeply into Kings County's agricultural base.

Kings County's economic problem would be worse if it weren't for government jobs at Lemoore Naval Air Station, in Kings County's three state prisons and in county and city departments.

Government employment in Kings County increased 100 positions from April to May, according to state Employment Development Department statistics.

Manufacturing, much of which is ag related, also increased employment, adding 200 jobs from April to May.

"We're essentially government and agriculture," said John Lehn, president of Kings Economic Development Corporation.

The agriculture industry in Kings County is facing increasing challenges stemming from drought and water-supply issues,

Government employment is facing its own setbacks, with an unprecedented state budget crisis threatening city and county layoffs and cuts in social services.

For indications of recovery, Lehn and other county leaders are looking for the county's unemployment rate to return to September 2008's level of 9.3 percent.

Lehn said he doesn't expect that to happen until late 2010.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2432.

(June 20, 2009)