County's Jobless Rate Rises But Still Below Last Year's

By City News Service

Riverside County’s jobless rate edged up slightly last month but remained well below the year-ago level, state officials reported Friday.

The unemployment rate in May, based on preliminary estimates, was 6.4 percent -- two-tenths of a percentage point higher than in April, according to the California Employment Development Department.

The rate was down more than a percentage point compared to a year ago, when county unemployment stood at 7.8 percent.

The countywide civilian labor force numbered 1,022,300, with 65,500 people out of work in May, EDD data showed.

The unincorporated community of Mecca had the highest unemployment rate countywide, at 16.6 percent, followed by Cabazon and the March Air Reserve Base census-designated community, which each had rates of 12.8 percent. The community of Lakeview had the third-highest jobless rate at 10.7 percent.

The combined unemployment rate for Riverside and San Bernardino counties in May was also 6.4 percent, up from 6.2 percent the prior month.

Bi-county data indicated payrolls expanded by the widest margin in the construction industry, which showed a gain of 2,800 jobs. The farm sector grew by another 1,200 jobs, and five other sectors of the regional economy added a combined 1,600 positions.

The mining and financial services sectors were unchanged last month.

A total 1,000 job losses were recorded in the public sector, educational and health services and information technology.

According to the EDD, the state’s non-seasonally-adjusted jobless rate in May was 6.2 percent.