For the fifth straight month, the unemployment rates in Stanislaus and Merced counties rose, according to preliminary data provided by the State of California Employment Development Department (EDD). Additionally, the state now has the highest unemployment rate in the nation.

According to the EDD, California had an unemployment rate of 5.6%, translating to over 1,027,000 individuals without a job, with 19,400 of those people in Stanislaus County and 14,500 in Merced County.

Stanislaus County’s unemployment rate rose just a tad from 7.7% in January to 7.8% in February. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate in Merced County went from 11% in January to 11.9% last month.

Turlock, the largest city in the Journal’s coverage area, had approximately 2,000 individuals unemployed in February. Hughson had the next largest population of unemployed individuals with roughly 400. Hilmar had 200 folks without work while the towns of Denair and Keyes each had about 100.

Several industries saw small losses, though when grouped together, created a significant dent in the total workforce. In Stanislaus County, those industries were wholesale trade, retail trade, transportation, utilities and warehousing, which each saw decreases of about 100 workers. Similarly, the state government education, private services and transportation and utilities sectors of Merced County each let go or lost about 100 workers.

The industry hiring the most in both counties remains the health care and social assistance sectors. There are currently 1,299 online job postings for jobs in the sector in Stanislaus County, including 424 for registered nurses — the most in-demand position in the region. Over in Merced County, there are currently 354 active listings for health care professionals, including 98 for registered nurses.

The next biggest industry looking to hire in both counties is retail, with 785 postings in Stanislaus County and another 251 in Merced County. Of those jobs, the most in-demand are companies looking to fill salesperson positions, with 290 listings in Stanislaus County and 81 in Merced County. Merced County also has a strong demand for manufacturing jobs, as there are currently 267 listings in the region.

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