The unemployment rate remained unchanged in October, as dips in some sectors were offset by gains in other sectors, according to the latest data from the Employment Development Department.

Stanislaus County had an unemployment rate of 6.9 percent in October, unchanged from the revised rate in September. The rate was below the year-ago estimate of 9.4 percent.

The end of the harvest season brought job losses in the Farming and Manufacturing sectors, primarily food processing. Farming dropped an estimated 400 positions and Manufacturing lost approximately 2,600 jobs for the month of October. Both sectors typically see significant job increases and decreases during the year as the growing season cycles out. For the year-over, Farming was up by about 4,700 jobs and Manufacturing was up by 300.

Other sectors that recorded job losses for the month were Professional and Business Services, which lost an estimated 200 jobs, and Educational and Health Services, which reported a drop of about 400 positions for the month. For the year-over numbers, Professional and Business Services dropped by an estimated 400 jobs and Educational and Health Services was down by 500, according to the EDD.

The sectors that reported job gains in October were Government, which added about 600 jobs; Trade, Transportation and Utilities, which increased by approximately 400 jobs; and Mining, Logging and Construction, which reported an increase of approximately 1,000 jobs. Government, for the year-over is up by an estimated 500 jobs; Trade, Transportation and Utilities was flat for the year-over; and Mining, Logging and Construction was up by about 1,400 jobs for the year.

The only other sector to be down in jobs for the year-over was Financial Activities, which reported a drop of approximately 100 positions.

All other sectors were flat for the month, the EDD reported.

Stanislaus County had an estimated labor force of 241,500 individuals, with approximately 224,900 employed and 16,600 unemployed.

California had an unemployment rate of 6.1 percent for the month and the nation's was at 4.3 percent for the same time frame. California's employers added 96,800 non-farm payroll jobs and has now regained 1,828,500, or 67.4 percent, of the 2,714,800 jobs that were lost in March and April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Turlock had an unemployment rate of 5.8 percent for October; Denair was at 6.5 percent; Hughson at 3.7 percent; Keyes at 8.4 percent; and Ceres was at 8 percent.

The EDD released data regarding the online job vacancies and the companies looking to hire for the month of October. The top 10 positions with the most job ads for the month in Stanislaus County were: Registered nurses - 660, which was up by 75 from the month prior; heavy and tractor-trailer drivers - 508, which was an increase of 79 from the previous month; retail salespersons - 415, which was up by 50 from September; first-line supervisors of retail sales workers - 284, which was an increase of 10 from September; customer service representatives - 235, which was down by 18 from the month prior; sales representatives wholesale and manufacturing except scientific and technical products - 233, which dropped by 25 from September; laborer and freight, stock and material movers - 210, which dropped by 29 for the month; managers - 209, which rose by 24 for the month; combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food – 178, which was up by 17; and maintenance and repair workers - 173, which was a decrease of 3 from September.

The top 10 companies posting the most online job vacancies in Stanislaus County in October were: Anthem Blue Cross - 516, up by 109; ; Sutter Health - 220, down by two; Tenet Health System - 198, down by 28; Yosemite Community College District — 179, up by 101; The Save Mart Companies - 138, up by 89; California State University, Stanislaus - 137, up by two; E & J Gallo Winery — 122, down by 11; Modesto City Schools - 116, down by 30; Doctors Medical Center of Modesto - 113, up by 40; and Amazon - 110, up by 79.