Business & Tech
County's Unemployment Rate Creeps Up
The county's non-seasonally-adjusted jobless rate in March, based on preliminary estimates, was 12.8 percent, compared to 12.7 percent in February.
Riverside County's unemployment rate edged up last month as payroll increases throughout the regional economy were largely offset by losses in key industries.
The county's non-seasonally-adjusted jobless rate in March, based on preliminary estimates, was 12.8 percent, compared to 12.7 percent in February, according to the California Economic Development Department.
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However, local unemployment was nearly 1 percentage point below the year-ago level, when the rate was 13.6 percent.
Riverside County's civilian labor force numbered 946,200 people, with 121,000 out of work.
Find out what's happening in Temeculafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The city of Cabazon had the highest unemployment rate countywide, at 31 percent, followed by Mecca at 25.1 percent and Homeland at 24.6, according to
the EDD.
The combined unemployment rate for Riverside and San Bernardino counties
in March was 12.7 percent, up from 12.5 percent the prior month.
Bi-county data indicated six sectors posted job gains totaling around 6,000. However, the cumulative loss last month totaled nearly the same number.
The construction and manufacturing sectors, along with trade, transportation and utilities, contracted. Analysts identify these sectors as key drivers of economic growth in the region.
The state's non-seasonally-adjusted jobless rate was 11.5 percent.
