The unemployment rate for Stanislaus County stayed steady in November, remaining unchanged from the month prior, but still below the year-ago estimate, according to the latest report from the Employment Development Department.

For November the unemployment rate came in at 6.2 percent, which was the same as the revised rate posted in October. The rate was below the year-ago estimate of 7.8 percent.

The sectors of Farming and Manufacturing both posted significant job declines for the month, but the loss was offset by gains in other sectors, primarily in retail positions, according to the EDD report.

The Farming sector reported a loss of approximately 1,900 jobs for the month, which was followed by a drop in the Manufacturing sector of an estimated 700 positions. Of those, 3.8 percent were in manufacturing of nondurable goods.

The two other sectors that posted job declines for the month were Government and Professional and Business Services, which each lost approximately 100 positions for the month of November, according to the EDD.

The Trade, transportation, and Utilities sector posted the largest gain for the month, with an estimated 800 positions added in November. Of that, 10 percent were at clothing and clothing accessory stores and 8.9 percent were at general merchandise stores — both of which add employees for the influx of holiday shoppers.

The two other sectors that added jobs in November were Leisure and Hospitality, and Educational and Health Services, which each added about 100 positions.

The EDD report stated the labor force in Stanislaus County was at 245,500, with 230,300 employed and 15,200 unemployed.

In Merced county, the unemployment rate for November came in at 7.8 percent, which was up slightly from the 7.2 percent posted in October. San Joaquin County had an unemployment rate of 6.2 percent for the month, which was the same rate posted in October.

California had an unemployment rate of 4 percent and the nation’s was at 3.9 percent for the same time period.

Turlock’s unemployment rate fell to 5.5 percent in November, down from 5.6 percent in October. Denair’s rate was at 3.7 percent for the month, which was the same rate posted in October. It was also the lowest rate posted for all of Stanislaus County. Hughson had a November rate of 9 percent, which was a drop from the 9.2 percent posted in October. Keyes had a rate of 10.2 percent in November, which was a dip from the 10.4 percent posted in October. Ceres had an unemployment rate of 6.7 percent in November, down from the 6.8 percent in October.

The occupations with the most help wanted ads in Stanislaus County for November were: Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers – 543; Registered Nurses – 432; Retail Salespersons – 179; Light Truck or Delivery Services Drivers – 152; Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand – 138; First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers – 129; Maintenance and Repair Workers – 113; First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers – 90; Teacher Assistants – 86; and Customer Service Representatives – 85.

The 10 companies that posted the most help wanted ads for November in Stanislaus County were: Tenet Healthcare Corporation – 175; Sutter Health – 104; Robert Half International – 100; Kaiser Permanente – 87; E&J Gallo – 84; Target Corporation – 71; Ceres Unified School District – 62; Modesto City Schools – 61; California State University System – 60; and Foster Farms – 56.