The unemployment rate in Stanislaus County crept up again for July, but continued to fall below the year-ago estimates, according to the labor report from the Employment Development Department.
Stanislaus County's unemployment rate in July was at an unadjusted seasonal rate of 12.9 percent, up slightly from the adjusted rate of 12.7 percent posted in June. The rate was well-below the year-ago estimate of 15.7 percent.
California's unemployment rate was at 9.3 percent and the nation's was at 7.7 percent for the same time period.
The increase in Stanislaus County's unemployment rate between June and July was largely spurred by a drop in farming-related jobs, according to the EDD report. An estimated 2,000 positions in farming came to an end in July, most of which were seasonal.
As the farming jobs decreased, the hiring in the manufacturing sector, specifically at food processing plants, rose as the harvests come in.
The manufacturing sector added an estimated 1,000 jobs in July, boosting the year-over number higher by an approximate 700 positions.
New hires at general merchandise stores helped the trade sector record an increase in July, with an estimated 300 new positions, the EDD reported.
The government sector saw the largest job loss for the month in the county, with a reported 800 positions lost. However, a majority of these positions are temporary layoffs at the school district levels and most will be back at work by the end of August.
Construction was another sector to post a job loss in July. The sector saw an estimated drop of 200 positions for the month and is down by about 1,000 jobs for the year-over, according to the EDD.
Ceres had an unemployment rate of 16.2 percent in July, up from 15.9 percent in June.
Hughson's unemployment rose to 16.9 percent in July, up from 16.6 percent in June.
Keyes also saw an increase in unemployment, going from 22.5 percent in June to 22.9 percent in July.
In Turlock the unemployment rate rose slightly from 9.6 percent in June to 9.8 percent in July.
Denair had one of the lowest unemployment rates in Stanislaus County for July at 7.1 percent, which is up from June's posting of 6.9 percent.
