The unemployment rate in Stanislaus County saw an increase in October, but continues to fall below the year-ago estimates, according to the latest report from the Employment Development Department.

October’s unemployment rate came in at 11.7 percent for the county, which is up from the revised rate of 11 percent recorded in September. The rate remains below the year-ago estimate of 13.6 percent.

There were an estimated 206,800 people employed in Stanislaus County in October and an approximate 27,300 unemployed, according to the EDD.

The October unemployment rate in Merced County came in at 12.1 percent and San Joaquin County posted an 11.6 percent rate.

California had an unemployment rate of 8.3 percent for the month and the nation had a 7 percent rate for the same time period.

The close of the harvest season spurred the majority of job losses in the county for October. The manufacturing sector saw an estimated decrease of 3,500 positions in October. Of that number, 21.2 percent were from food manufacturing companies, which typically see drops in the last months of the year, according to EDD data.

The other sector to record a significant job loss was the construction industry, which saw an estimated loss of 400 jobs, the EDD reported.

The upcoming busy shopping season spurred an increase in hiring for the month. The trade, transportation and utilities sector added an estimated 800 positions. Of that, retail industries increased hiring by 1 percent, while transportation, warehouse and utilities raised hiring levels by 11.4 percent.

In Stanislaus County, Turlock recorded one of the lowest unemployment rates for October at 8.8 percent. Only Salida, East Oakdale, and Denair had lower rates. Denair’s unemployment rate came in at 6.3 percent. Hughson had a rate of 15.3 percent and Keyes came in at 20.9 percent. Ceres ended October with an unemployment rate of 14.6 percent.