The unemployment rate in Stanislaus County saw an uptick in the month of December, according to the latest numbers from the Employment Development Department.

The December unemployment rate came in at 6.3 percent, up from a revised rate of 5.7 percent in November. The rate remained below the year-ago estimate of 6.8 percent.

Six sectors in Stanislaus County recorded declines in employment for the month of December, with the Farming sector taking the biggest loss, according to the EDD. The sector reported a drop of approximately 1,700 jobs for the month. Following behind the Farming sector for job losses was Manufacturing, which lost an estimated 400 jobs in December. Within those 400 jobs, 3.8 percent came from food manufacturing and 1.8 percent came from manufacturing of durable goods.

Other sectors in Stanislaus County that posted declines in employment for December were: Mining, Logging, and Construction (200); Professional and Business Services (300); Government (300); and Other Services (100).

Stanislaus County sectors that reported job gains in December were: Trade, Transportation and Utilities (100); Financial Activities (100); Educational and Health Services (200); and Leisure and Hospitality (100).

Stanislaus County had an estimated labor force of 244,000 in December, with approximately 15,430 unemployed, according to the EDD.

Merced County had an unemployment rate of 8.2 percent, up from 6.7 percent recorded in November. San Joaquin County had a rate of 6.1 percent in December, up from 5.5 percent the month prior.

California’s unemployment rate in December was at 4.1 percent and the nation had a rate 3.7 percent for the same time frame.

Turlock’s unemployment rate grew to 4.4 percent in December, up from 4.1 percent in November. Denair’s rate was at 5.1 percent in December, up from 4.6 percent in November. Hughson had a December rate of 5.2 percent, an increase from the 4.7 percent posted in November. Keyes saw a rise from 11.3 percent in November to 12.3 percent in December. Ceres had an unemployment rate of 7.4 percent in December, up from the 7 percent in November.

The occupations with the most help wanted ads in Stanislaus County for December were: Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers – 379; Registered Nurses – 299; Retail Salespersons – 210; First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers – 192; Teacher Assistants – 121; First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers – 102; Security Guards – 98; Customer Service Representatives — 85; Maintenance and Repair Workers – 75; and Stock Clerks, Sales Floor – 70.

The 10 companies that posted the most help wanted ads for December in Stanislaus County were: Patterson Joint Unified School District – 306; Conifer Health Solutions — 191; Tenet Healthcare Corporation – 190; Ceres Unified School District – 107; Emanuel Medical Center — 103; Sutter Health – 85; Memorial Medical Center, Modesto — 76; Modesto City Schools – 67; Kaiser Permanente – 56; and E & J Gallo Winery — 48.