Merced jobless rate grows to 10.9 percent in November

Though the local jobless figure rose, California’s unemployment rate dipped slightly in November to 5.7 percent.

In Merced County, the state Employment Development Department said Friday, the unemployment rate for November stood at 10.9 percent, up sharply from an adjusted 9 percent in October. Farm jobs, which are more likely to be seasonal, accounted for most of that, with a loss of 3,400 jobs. Nonfarm jobs registered a loss of 800.

However, the economy still shows signs of improvement, with the November rate at less than the year-ago figure of 11.9 percent.

In neighboring Stanislaus County, November’s unemployment rate stood at 8.8 percent, up from a revised 8.4 percent in October. The November rate, however, was nearly two percentage points less than the year-ago rate of 10.6 percent.

Statewide during the month, nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 5,500. In October, the unemployment rate was 5.8 percent. In November 2014, California’s unemployment rate was 7.2 percent.

The agricultural base of Stanislaus County was apparent in the local figures, where farm jobs dropped by 1,900, offsetting a gain in nonfarm jobs of 1,000.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This story was originally published December 18, 2015 at 11:33 AM with the headline "Merced jobless rate grows to 10.9 percent in November."