August proved to be a strong month for the labor markets at each the local, statewide and national levels, according to preliminary data provided recently by the State of California Employment Development Department (EDD).

Stanislaus County — with a labor force that grew by about 700 people to 261,400 — saw its unemployment rate drop from 7.8% in July to an even 7% in August. Those figures translate to a decrease of 2,200 people without work, down to 18,200.

According to the data, Ceres had an unemployment rate of 8.1 percent, or about 1,800 without work among a labor force of 21,700. It is unclear if those 1,800 are actively looking for work. 

Denair, Keyes, Hilmar and Hughson remained stagnant at 200 unemployed in each city and designated area.

In Turlock, approximately 2,400 are without work, a decrease of about 100 from a month ago.

The highest jobless rate in Stanislaus County is found within the Bystrom area where 17 percent are jobless. Empire was also high at 12.3 percent, followed by Newman at 11.3 percent in August.

The local numbers are on par with trends statewide and across the nation. California’s 5.8% unemployment rate in August was down from 6.1 percent. The United States had its rate drop from 4.6% to 4.5% in a month’s time.

In Stanislaus County, as the decrease in unemployment came at a time in which the labor force also grew by 700 people, pushing the total of individuals able to work to about 261,400.

Contributing to the employment boom in August was the farming industry, adding 900 jobs amid the harvest season, as well as the food manufacturing, who added another 800 workers.

Each county has a similar demand for types of workers needed, according to the EDD’s online database.

In Stanislaus County, the health care and social assistance sectors remains in most demand of workers with there being currently 1,253 online job listings. Retail is not far behind with 936 listings in the county, followed by private education services with 578 active listings.

Those on the hunt for a job can find resources at www.edd.ca.gov/en/jobs