Oil field employment was flat, leaving the industry with an even 10,000 workers in Kern, which the EDD said was 2,500, or 20 percent, fewer than it employed in August 2014.

Kern County unemployment dipped to a seasonally unadjusted 9.3 percent in August, its lowest rate since November, as farmers, schools and manufacturers created new jobs.

The state employment agency reported there are roughly 17.9 million Californians holding jobs while another 1.2 million are unemployed.

The Inland Empire’s unemployment rate fell to 6.8 in August from 7.1 percent in July, matching a trend visible in almost every non-recession year since 2000.

California employers added a total of 36,300 jobs in August and the state’s unemployment rate landed at 6.1 percent, down from 6.2 percent the previous month and 7.4 percent a year ago.

There was a net gain of 6,100non-farm jobs in August for the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario statistical area, the California Employment Development Department reported.

The increase in jobs last month came after a robust showing in June, although that figure was revised slightly down to 80,500.

Bi-county data indicated payrolls expanded by the widest margin in the public sector, mainly in education, as teachers and support staff returned from summer recess.

Other job categories with increases were construction, with 400 jobs added, and financial activities, which added 100 workers.

Over the past year, California has added 470,000 jobs, the BLS said, far and away the best in the nation.

California’s jobless rate remains above the national average of 5.1 percent in August. Wholesale trade added 900 workers and retail grew by 600.