There was a marked improvement in Stanislaus County’s unemployment rate during the month of August, as the rate fell below the year-ago estimate and the total from the month prior, according to the latest numbers from the Economic Development Department.

The unadjusted seasonal unemployment rate for Stanislaus County in August was 16 percent which is down from the adjusted rate of 17.3 percent in July and below the year-ago estimate of 16.4 percent.

Stanislaus County gained an estimated 5,000 jobs between July and August, with the manufacturing sector showing the most improvement with an estimated 2,800 jobs added, according to the EDD.

The Trade, Transportation and Utilities sector, which includes retail, saw a gain of 400 jobs over the month, but has lost about 900 jobs in the year-over tally, with retail taking the greatest hit.

California's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 12.1 percent in August, up 0.1 percentage point from the rate in July, and down 0.3 percentage point from one year ago. In comparison, the U.S. unemployment rate was 9.1 percent in August, unchanged from July, and down 0.5 percentage point from 1 year ago.
In California there were 14,057,200 jobs in total nonfarm industries in August, a decrease of 8,400 jobs from last month. This followed a revised 4,600-job loss in July and 30,400-job gain in June.
Within nonfarm industries, five sectors saw month-over job gains; six sectors saw a month-over job decline. The sectors with increased employment in August were:  Trade, Transportation and Utilities (5,700); Manufacturing (1,600); Leisure and Hospitality (1,500); Mining and Logging (200); and Professional and Business Services (100). Sectors that lost jobs in August were: Construction (7,200); Financial Activities (4,000); Government (3,600); Other services (1,300); Information (800); and Educational and Health Services (600).

Merced County had an unemployment rate of 17.5 percent in August, down from 18.7 percent in July. San Joaquin County’s rate was at 16.1 percent, down from 17.5 percent.

Turlock’s unemployment rate fell to 12.2 percent in August, down from 13.4 percent in July. Denair had a rate of 8.8 percent, down from 9.6 percent. Hughson had an unemployment rate of 20.7 percent, down from 22.4 percent. Keyes’ rate fell from 29.7 percent to 27.5 percent.

To contact Sabra Stafford, e-mail sstafford@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2002.