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Manteca jobless rate unchanged at 16.1 %
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Manteca’s jobless rate was unchanged in February.

It marked the first time in six months that the number of unemployed in Manteca has not increased.

Even so, the post Great Depression record high 16.1 percent unemployment rate is higher than it was a year ago when the jobless number was at 13.8 percent.

Countywide, the unemployment rate inched up from 18.1 percent in January to 18.4 percent in February according to California Employment Development Department statistics.

Even with the increase in unemployment which reflects people who live here but may be employed in other counties who lost their jobs, there were 700 net jobs created in San Joaquin County last month. That included 300 farm jobs and 400 non-farm jobs.

The biggest gain was in educational and health services with 400 new jobs followed by 200 more government jobs all of which were in local education. There were also 100 jobs created in each of the following sectors: financial activities, leisure and hospitality, as well as other services.

Construction as well as transportation and trades each lost 300 jobs.

Manteca has created about 200 retail and hospitality jobs so far this month with the pending opening of the Hampton Inn Suites, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Dress Barn and JoAnn’s Fabrics. That is expected to be offset by NUMMI workers who live in Manteca and are now getting laid off from their jobs in Fremont.

The jobless rate in the Northern San Joaquin Valley is impacted as much by the Bay Area economy as it is by the local economy. The data reflects the number of available adults who are gainfully employed or not within a certain jurisdiction within the county. Overall, the job count reflects positions available in the county although they could be held by non-county residents just like many Bay Area jobs are held by those who live in the Northern San Joaquin Valley.