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Stanislaus jobless rate climbs in May
(Modesto Bee, The (CA) (KRT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jun. 21--In a season when Stanislaus County normally can count on job growth, unemployment is growing this year.
The county's jobless rate in May was 10.8 percent, up from 8.4 percent in May 2007.
May's rate was an increase from April's 10.6 percent.
Late spring drops in unemployment are common in the valley as farm work picks up and food processing plants prepare for the first harvests, said Liz Baker, EDD labor market analyst for Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties.
Several elements are bearing down on the economy and employment at the same time, she said. With faltering consumer confidence, business may be extra cautious against overstaffing.
In addition to layoffs, graduates are entering the market and retirees are looking for ways to make extra money to afford rising fuel prices, Baker added.
Even experienced workers have it tough, said Tina Alcantar, Modesto manager of Staffing Network, which connects workers with jobs, primarily in warehouses.
"I'm getting qualified people with 10 years of experience. They never thought they'd be in a situation like this," she said.
The housing and foreclosure crisis in the valley has pummeled the construction, government and finance sectors, which include mortgage and title companies.
"It's an affirmation of projections we talked about earlier in the year. All things related to the construction market are suffering a lot," said Bill Bassitt, chief executive officer of the Stanislaus Economic Development and Workforce Alliance, which helps job seekers find work and training.
"On the positive side, we're still seeing good numbers in relation to the ag economy. So it hasn't hit all sectors yet," Bassitt said.
The agricultural sector added 500 jobs from May of last year to this May. And 2,600 jobs were added from April to May this year; the strongest gains have been in business services, health and education, according to the EDD report.
Bassitt cautioned against putting too much faith in one segment of the economy.
"With construction and fuel prices on the rise, it could be a matter of time before we see other segments hit."
California's unemployment rate also was up, from 6.2 percent in April to 6.8 percent in May. It was 5.3 percent in May 2007.
Bee staff writer Eve Hightower can be reached at ehightower@modbee.com or 578-2382.
To see more of The Modesto Bee, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.modbee.com/.
Copyright (c) 2008, The Modesto Bee, Calif.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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