The unemployment rate in Stanislaus County continued to decline in September, according to the latest data from the Employment Development Department.

The unemployment rate in September for Stanislaus County was at 6.5 percent, down from the revised rate of 7.5 percent posted in August. The rate is also below the year-ago estimate of 7.3 percent.

The decline was largely attributable to the increase in hiring in the Government sector, which added an estimated 1,000 positions during the month, according to the EDD. The majority of those hires, at 11.1 percent, were in positions with the state government.

The only other sector to post an increase in jobs in Stanislaus County in September was the Mining, Logging and Construction sector, which added an estimated 200 positions.

Several sectors in the county posted declines in jobs in September, including Manufacturing (700); Trade, Transportation and Utilities (200); and Educational and Health Services (800).

Merced County had an unemployment rate of 7.5 percent in September, down from the 9.1 percent posted in August. San Joaquin County had an unemployment rate of 6.6 percent in September, down from 7.5 percent the month prior.

California had an unemployment rate of 4.7 percent and the nation’s was at 4.1 percent for the same time frame.   

Turlock’s unemployment rate fell to 5.8 percent in September, down from 6.7 percent in August. Denair’s rate was at 3.9 percent for the month, down from the 4.5 percent posted in August. It was also the lowest rate posted for all of Stanislaus County.

Hughson had a September rate of 9.4 percent, which was a drop from the 10.9 percent posted in August. Keyes had a rate of 10.7 percent in September, which was a dip from the 12.3 percent posted in August. Ceres had an unemployment rate of 7 percent in September, down from the 8 percent in August.

The occupations with the most help wanted ads in Stanislaus County for September were: Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers – 509; Registered Nurses – 386; Management Analysts – 187; Medical and Health Services Managers – 165; Retail Salespersons – 157; Maintenance and Repair Workers – 135; Marketing Managers – 125; Customer Service Representatives – 120; First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers – 114; and Light Truck or Delivery Services Drivers – 112.

The 10 companies that posted the most help wanted ads for September in Stanislaus County were: Tenet Healthcare Corporation – 169; Sutter Health – 132; Robert Half International – 97; Ceres Unified School District – 76; Medoptions – 72; E&J Gallo – 64; Modesto City Schools – 64; Starbucks – 55; California State University System – 50; and Foster Farms – 49.