The unemployment rate in Stanislaus County stayed at a steady rate in October, according to the latest numbers released by the Economic Development Department.
Stanislaus County recorded an unadjusted seasonal unemployment rate of 16.2 percent for October, just marginally higher than the adjusted rate of 16.1 percent for September. The 16.2 percent represents 38,400 people in the county without a job.
The numbers were similar for Merced and San Joaquin counties, where unemployment rates of 16.3 percent were recorded for both counties in October.
The stagnant pace of hiring in the Central Valley was reflected at the state level as well. For the second month California had an unemployment rate of 12.4 percent. The national unemployment rate was also unchanged for October at 9.6 percent.
A federal survey of 5,500 California households shows a decrease in the number of employed people during the month. It estimates the number of Californians holding jobs in October was 15,972,000, a decrease of 3,000 from September, but up 33,000 from the employment total in October of last year.
The number of people unemployed in California was 2,258,000 – down by 10,000 over the month, but up by 42,000 compared with October of last year, according to the EDD.
There were a few bright spots in the state’s employment news. EDD’s report on payroll employment, both wage and salary jobs in the nonfarm industries of California, totaled 13,857,500 in October, a net gain of 39,000 jobs since the September survey. This followed a loss of 53,600 jobs in September.
Construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; professional and business services; educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; other services; and government added jobs over the month, gaining 46,500 jobs. Professional and business services posted the largest increase over the month, adding 14,800 jobs. Mining and logging; information; and financial activities reported job declines in October, down 7,500 jobs. Financial activities posted the largest decline over the month, down by 4,300 jobs.
In a year-over-year comparison from October 2009 to October 2010, nonfarm payroll employment in California decreased by 27,400 jobs, down 0.2 percent.
In related data, the EDD reported that there were 592,475 people receiving regular unemployment insurance benefits during the October survey week. This compares with 595,996 last month and 740,272 last year. At the same time, new claims for unemployment insurance were 67,168 in October 2010, compared with 75,316 in September and 83,475 in October of last year.
In Stanislaus County there was an estimated 3,500 jobs lost between September and October, with the manufacturing industry taking the biggest hit with 3,000 losses.
Locally, Mining, Logging and Construction; Educational and Health Services; and Government were the only industries to post job gains.
The unemployment rate in Turlock remained at 12.4 percent, representing an unemployed labor force of 3,600 people. Denair stayed steady at 9 percent, the second lowest in the county. Keyes and Hughson saw slight drops for October. Keyes went from 27.9 percent in September to 27.8 percent and Hughson went from 21 percent to 20.9 percent.
The highest area of unemployment in Stanislaus County is in the Shackelford area of Modesto with 45.2 percent. The area with the lowest unemployment rate is East Oakdale with a rate of 6.9 percent.
In California, Imperial County had the highest rate of unemployment at 29.3 percent. Marin County had the lowest at 8 percent.
To contact Sabra Stafford, e-mail sstafford@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2002.
