The unemployment rate in Kern County is down from last month, according to a report released today by the State of California's Employment Development Division. 

Kern County fell to 9.7% unemployment in August 2016 from 10.5% in July 2016. 

While the new numbers show improvement from last month, the 9.7% unemployment rate is above last year's 9.4%.

This compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 5.6% for California and a 5% rate for the U.S. during the same period.