The unemployment rate in Stanislaus County remained at a steady rate between May and June, according to the latest report from the Employment Development Department.
The June unemployment rate for Stanislaus County was at 11.1 percent, the same revised rate posted for May. The rate is below the year-ago estimate of 13.3 percent.
Jobs tied to the area’s harvest saw substantial growth in June. Farm jobs added an estimated 1,200 positions for the month and food manufacturing added approximately 800 new positions for a 9.9 percent increase from the previous month and a 2.3 percent increase for the year.
As a sector, manufacturing added around 1,100 jobs in June and is up by about 600 positions from last year.
The only sectors locally to post job losses in June were the Educational and Health Services, which dropped approximately 200 jobs and Government, which recorded a job decline of an estimated 600 positions, according to the EDD. The majority of the layoffs came from the school districts in the county, which typically reduce staffing during the summer months.
The EDD estimated Stanislaus County had a labor force of 235,900, with 209,800 employed and 26,100 unemployed.
The unemployment rate in Merced County fell from 12.5 percent in May to 12.3 percent in June. San Joaquin County’s unemployment rate dropped to 10.3 percent in June, down from 10.5 percent the previous month.
The unemployment rate in California was at 7.3 percent for June and the nation’s was at 6.3 percent for the same time period.
Though the 11.1 percent unemployment rate for Stanislaus County is one of the lowest rates the area has seen in quite a few years, the rate still ranks high in the state for unemployment. Out of California’s 58 counties, Stanislaus is ranked 50th for unemployment.
“While I am pleased that California’s employment rates continue to improve, we cannot forget that counties such as the ones I represent are still suffering from double-digit unemployment,” said Assemblymember Kristin Olsen (R-Modesto). “Our state's terrible drought has cost billions of dollars and tens of thousands of agricultural jobs. The small businesses and families impacted by this tragedy have not yet had an opportunity to recover from the Great Recession, and they need state leaders to focus on policies that will spur economic growth. “
Turlock saw its unemployment rate fall from 8.4 percent in May to 8.3 percent in June. Denair’s rate stayed steady at 6 percent in June, as did Hughson’s at 14.6 percent. Keyes saw their rate fall to 19 percent in June, down from 20 percent in May. Ceres saw their rate stay the same at 13.9 percent.
The jobs and professions having the most help wanted ads in Stanislaus County for June were: Registered Nurses – 537; Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers – 306; Retail Salespersons – 146; Physical Therapists – 137; First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers – 128; First-Line Supervisors of Office Administrative Support – 97; Critical Care Nurses — 95; Occupational Therapists — 95; and First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers — 92.
The 10 companies that posted the most help wanted ads for June in Stanislaus County were: TruStaff – 114; Soliant — 101; Tenet Healthcare Corporation — 66; Kaiser Permanente — 65; Supplemental Health Care – 64; E. & J. Gallo Winery – 52; California State University System — 51; Robert Half International – 51; Sutter Health – 42; and Alliance Worknet – 34.
