The unemployment rate in Stanislaus County recorded a slight decline in August, according to the latest numbers from the Employment Development Department.

The unemployment rate in August for Stanislaus County came in at 7.5 percent, below the revised rate of 7.5 percent posted in July. The rate also is below the year-ago estimate of 7.7 percent.

The decline was largely spurred by an increase in hiring in the manufacturing sector. The sector added an estimated 2,100 jobs for the month, with 16.1 percent in food manufacturing industries. Despite the increase in numbers for the month, the sector is down by approximately 100 positions for the year.

The farming sector also posted job growth in August, with an estimated 800 positions added, according to the EDD. For the year, the sector is up by approximately 900 positions.

Other sectors reporting job growth in August in the county were: Trade, Transportation and Utilities (400); Educational and Health Services (200); and Government (400).

There were three sectors that reported job declines for the month. The sectors were: Mining, Logging, and Construction (100); Information (100); and Leisure and Hospitality (200).

Merced County had an unemployment rate of 9.1 percent, down from 9.7 percent in August. San Joaquin County had an August unemployment rate of 7.5 percent, down from a rate of 7.7 percent in July.

California had an unemployment rate of 5.4 percent in August and the nation’s was at 4.5 percent for the same time frame.

Turlock’s unemployment rate fell to 6.7 percent in August, down from 7.1 percent in July. Denair’s rate was at 4.5percent for the month, down slightly from the 4.7 percent posted in July. Hughson had an August rate of 10.9 percent, which was a drop from the 11.5 percent posted in July. Keyes had a rate of 12.3 percent in August, which was a dip from the 13 percent posted in July. Ceres had an unemployment rate of 8 percent in August, down from the 8.5 percent in July.

The occupations with the most help wanted ads in Stanislaus County for August were: Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers – 523; Registered Nurses – 504; Maintenance and Repair Workers – 142; First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers – 139; Retail Salespersons – 133; Medical and Health Services Managers – 131; Management Analysts – 130; Customer Service Representatives – 104; Teacher Assistants – 98; and Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners Light Truck or Delivery Services Drivers – 94.

The 10 companies that posted the most help wanted ads for August in Stanislaus County were: Anthem, Inc. – 652; Tenet Healthcare Corporation – 184; Sutter Health – 145; Robert Half International – 78; Medoptions – 72; E&J Gallo – 71; Trustaff – 70; Modesto City Schools – 70; Ceres Unified School District – 68; and Starbucks – 55.