The unemployment rate in Stanislaus County increased by the slightest margin in July according to the latest report from the Employment Development Department.

Stanislaus County had an unemployment rate of 6.6 percent in July, up from a revised rate of 6.5 percent in June, the EDD reported. The July rate was below the year-ago estimate of 6.9 percent.

Five sectors in the county had neither job gains or losses, including the Farming sector. Four sectors posted job gains in July, with Manufacturing leading with an estimated 1,800 new jobs. Of those, 18.9 percent were in food processing, which typically sees gains as the harvest comes in and declines once the harvest is over.

The two sectors that posted job losses for the month were Educational and Health Services, which dropped by an estimated 100 positions, and Government, which posted a loss of approximately 700 jobs. Most of the 700 job losses in Government are within local school districts and are typically rehired once the start of the school year.

Stanislaus County had an estimated labor force of 244,300 in July, with approximately 16,000 unemployed.

Ceres had an unemployment rate of 7.5 percent in July. Hughson had a July rate of 6.7 percent, which was the same as in June. Keyes saw a rise from 8.7 percent in June to 8.8 percent in July. Turlock’s unemployment rate rose to 5.3 percent in July, up from 5 percent in June. Denair’s rate was 3.7 percent in July, up from 3.6 percent in June. 

California had an unemployment rate of 4.4 percent, while the country’s was at 4 percent for the same time frame. The state added an estimated 19,600 nonfarm payroll jobs in July, according to the EDD. Wage and salary jobs increased by 311,800 jobs (a 1.8 percent increase) from July 2018 to July 2019 in California, compared to the U.S. annual gain of 2,246,000 jobs (a 1.5 percent increase).

July’s job gain contributes to an employment expansion in California that is now 113 months long, tying the expansion of the 1960s for the longest on record, the EDD reported. California has gained 3,299,000 jobs since the economic expansion began in February 2010, accounting for more than 15 percent of the nation’s job gains over the expansion.

There were 308,212 people in California receiving unemployment insurance benefits during the survey week in July compared to 302,156 in June and 323,594 people in July 2018. Concurrently, 39,490 people filed new claims in July, which was a month-over increase of 604.

The companies posting the most help wanted ads in Stanislaus County for July were: Conifer Health Solutions - 213; Tenet Healthcare Corporation - 194; Yosemite Community College District - 139; Emanuel Medical Center - 128; Sutter Health - 108; Save Mart Supermarkets - 78; Memorial Medical Center, Modesto - 62; Ceres Unified School District – 61; Modesto City Schools; and E. & J. Gallo Winery – 54.

The positions with the most help wanted ads in Stanislaus County in July were: Registered Nurses - 304; Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers - 282; Retail Salespersons - 216; First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers - 192; Security Guards - 115; Customer Service Representatives - 100; Maintenance and Repair Workers, General - 98; Stock Clerks, Sales Floor - 89; First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers - 88; and Stock Clerks- Stockroom, Warehouse, or Storage Yard - 71.