Valley unemployment rates drop in May

Unemployment rates fell throughout the eight-county San Joaquin Valley region in May and remained well below May 2015 rates, according to data released by the California Employment Development Department. Here are the May unemployment rates, followed in parentheses by the April 2016 and May 2015 rates:

Fresno – 8.5 percent (9.6, 9.7)

Kern – 9.7 percent (10.6, 10.2)

Kings – 8.6 percent (10.0, 10.0)

Madera – 8.5 percent (9.6, 10.3)

Merced – 9.7 percent (11.1, 11.2)

San Joaquin – 7.1 percent (8.1, 8.5)

Stanislaus – 8.0 percent (8.9, 9.5)

Tulare – 9.5 percent (10.8, 10.8)