For the first time in 2023, both Stanislaus and Merced counties saw their unemployment rates drop in the same month.
According to the latest data from the State of California Employment Development Department (EDD), Stanislaus County’s unemployment rate dropped from 6.8 percent in June to 6.5 percent in July, adding roughly 800 jobs. Similarly, Merced County’s unemployment went from 9.4 percent in June to 8.6 percent in July, adding 900 jobs.
The statistics compare to an unadjusted unemployment rate of 4.8 percent for the state of California as a whole and a 3.8 percent rate for the nation during the same period.
The city of Turlock’s unemployment rate for the month sat at 5.2 percent, translating to 1,800 individuals without work. Meanwhile, the towns of Denair, Hughson and Keyes each reported 100 members of the labor force without jobs. Over in Hughson, there were 300 individuals without work, translating to a 9.2 percent unemployment rate.
In Stanislaus County, the biggest job creator was the manufacturing industry, as there were over 200 positions filled. Merced County’s largest growing industry in July was the private services sector, which accounts for jobs in financial services, law firms, real estate, media, hospitality and more.
As both counties slightly improve their unemployment rates, there is opportunity to post even better statistics for August as there are several job openings in the region.
The EDD’s website shows that there are a significant number of job openings for the health care, social assistance, retail, private education and manufacturing industries in each county.
The health care and social assistance sector in Stanislaus County currently has 1,517 online job postings, 538 of those are for registered nurses, the most in-demand position in the region. Merced county has 89 postings for registered nurses.
The next largest seeking to hire in Stanislaus County is the retail industry, with 353 retail sales positions open.
Merced County is also a hotspot for private education jobs, as there are currently 573 job postings online. And while there have already been 200 new manufacturing jobs filled in the region, there remains 429 openings in Merced County.
