Joblessness in Stanislaus, Merced Counties, Calif., Is Double State's Rate.

By Alejandra Navarro, The Modesto Bee, Calif. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

May 10--The jobless rates are on the rise in most Northern San Joaquin Valley counties, according to reports released by the state Employment Development Department.

Rates for Stanislaus and Merced remain at more than twice the state's unemployment rate of 6.6 percent.

California had 1,157,400 unemployed workers in April -- about 56,400 fewer than in March, but about 26,600 more than April 2002.

"High-tech companies and the airline industry have not made their way back around from this economic downturn, hence people are staying unemployed for a longer …