The ranks of the unemployed in Stanislaus County grew during the month of March, according to the latest figures from the Employment Development Department.
The unemployment rate for the county was at 7.5 percent in March, up from a revised rate of 7.1 percent for February. The rate also came in above the year-ago estimate set at 7.4 percent, according to the EDD.
Stanislaus County had a labor force of approximately 244,300 in March with 18,400 unemployed, the EDD reported.
The EDD numbers showed two sectors in Stanislaus County posted job losses in March, but more sectors were down when looking at the year-over numbers. The Trade, Transportation and Utilities sector and the Professional and Business Services sector were both down by an estimated 100 positions each, according to the EDD.
All the other sectors in Stanislaus County posted job gains or remained flat for the month, but several were down when looking at the rate seen in 2018. The Manufacturing sector in Stanislaus County was responsible for approximately 19,300 jobs in March. During March of 2018, the sector had an estimated 20,700 jobs, leaving it down by about 1,400 jobs. Professional and Business Services (700) and Leisure and Hospitality (200) were also down from the previous year, the EDD reported.
Merced County had an unemployment rate of 11 percent in March, up from 10.7 percent in February. San Joaquin County had an unemployment rate of 7.3 percent, up from 7 percent in February.
California had an unemployment rate of 4.6 percent and the nation’s was at 3.9 percent for the same time period.
Turlock’s unemployment rate rose to 5.4 percent in March, up from 5.1 percent in February. Denair’s rate was at 4.2 percent in March, up from 4 percent in February. Hughson had a March rate of 7. 7 percent, an increase from the 7.4 percent posted in February. Keyes saw a rise from 9.7 percent in February to 10.1 percent in March. Ceres had an unemployment rate of 8.4 percent in March, up from the 8.2 percent in February.
The occupations with the most help wanted ads in Stanislaus County for March were: Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers – 318; Registered Nurses – 270; Retail Salespersons – 196; First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers – 184; Customer Service Representatives — 94; First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers – 83; Maintenance and Repair Workers – 81; Stock Clerks, Sales Floor – 79; Security Guards – 78; and Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food – 67.
The 10 companies that posted the most help wanted ads for March in Stanislaus County were: Tenet Healthcare Corporation – 169; Conifer Health Solutions — 167; Yosemite Community College District – 151; Sutter Health – 94; Emanuel Medical Center — 86; Memorial Medical Center, Modesto — 86; Save Mart Supermarkets – 51; Kaiser Permanente – 44; E & J Gallo Winery — 44; and CVS Health – 43.
