Unemployment Rate Dips In Riverside County

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA ? Payroll gains across most sectors of the regional economy pushed Riverside County's unemployment rate a little lower last month, according to figures released Friday by the California Employment Development Department.

The countywide jobless rate in November, based on preliminary EDD estimates, was 5.1%, compared to 5.2% in October.

According to figures, the November rate was a full percentage point above the year-ago level, when countywide unemployment stood at 4.1%.

An estimated 59,700 county residents were recorded as out of work last month, and 1,105,800 were employed, according to EDD.

Mecca had the highest unemployment rate countywide in November at 12.4%, followed by Coachella at 10.7%, Cherry Valley at 9.2%, Desert Hot Springs and Rancho Mirage at 7.3%, and East Hemet at 7.1%.

The combined unemployment rate for Riverside and San Bernardino counties ? the Inland Empire ? last month was also 5.1%, unchanged from October, the EDD said.

Bi-county data indicated that payrolls declined in the construction, manufacturing and professional and business services sectors, which altogether shed about 2,000 jobs.

Payrolls expanded by the widest margin in the trade and transportation sector, which added an estimated 11,200 jobs in anticipation of the Christmas shopping season.

Additional gains were recorded in the agricultural, financial services, hospitality, health services, information technology and public sectors, which swelled by an aggregate 4,200 jobs.

Miscellaneous unclassified industries added another 1,300 positions, according to figures.
Data showed the statewide non-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate last month was 4.9%.