Community Corner
County's Unemployment Rate Hovers Near 12 Percent
A few sectors reported modest payroll increases.
Riverside County's unemployment rate remained just under 12 percent last month, though a few sectors reported modest payroll increases, the state's Economic Development Department reported today.
The county's non-seasonally-adjusted jobless rate in May, based on preliminary estimates, was 11.8 percent -- the same as April, according to the EDD.
Local unemployment was more than a percentage point below the year-ago level, when the jobless rate hit 13.1 percent.
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Riverside County's civilian labor force numbered 933,300 people, with 110,000 out of work, according to EDD figures.
The city of Cabazon had the highest unemployment rate countywide at 29 percent, followed by Mecca at 23.4 percent and Homeland at 22.9, according to
the EDD.
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The combined unemployment rate for Riverside and San Bernardino counties in May was 11.8 percent, up from 11.7 percent the prior month.
Bi-county data indicated six sectors added jobs, while four sectors cut positions. The largest increase was in trade, transportation and utilities, where payrolls expanded by 2,300.
The regional economy's growth drivers, construction and manufacturing,
were loss leaders last month, shrinking by a combined 1,400 jobs.
The state's non-seasonally-adjusted jobless rate was 10.4 percent.
