The month of April recorded a quadruple crown in terms of unemployment rates, as they dropped at the national, state and county levels, according to preliminary data provided by the State of California Employment Development Department (EDD).

Per the EDD, the national unemployment rates dropped from 3.9% in March to an even 3.5% in April. California’s rate dropped from 5.4% to 4.8% during that time. 

Locally, Stanislaus County’s rate dropped from 7.5% to an even 7%, leaving roughly 17,400 people without work. In Merced County, the rate dropped from 11.6% to 10.5% in a month’s time, meaning there remained about 12,700 people without a job.

By the end of April, the city of Turlock had an estimate of 1,800 people considered unemployed. Hughson had about 300 folks without work. Denair, Hilmar and Keyes each had about 100 people not working.

The agriculture industry grew immensely in each county, with Stanislaus County adding 800 farming jobs and another 1,100 in Merced County. 

Health care and social assistance jobs were also on the rise in Stanislaus County, with 300 positions filled. 200 positions were also filled in the retail industry and in local government in the county.

Over in Merced County, the retail industry also complemented farming jobs alongside the leisure and hospitality sector, each adding about 100 jobs.

Despite retailers and health care employers hiring at a high rate, each remains in high demand of workers.

In Stanislaus County, there are currently 1,254 online postings for health care and social assistance jobs — the most in-demand sector in each county. Meanwhile, there are 823 retail openings in Stanislaus County and another 255 in Merced County.

Manufacturing companies are also looking for workers in each county, with there being 542 listings in Stanislaus County and 297 in Merced County.