Jobless Rate Drops 0.2%
RIVERSIDE (CNS) – Amid a mix of payroll losses and gains throughout the regional economy, Riverside County’s unemployment rate dropped marginally in May, according to figures released Friday by the California Employment Development Department.
The countywide jobless rate last month, based on preliminary EDD estimates, was 4.7%, compared to 4.9%, in April.
According to figures, the May rate was three-tenths of a percentage point lower than the year-ago level, when countywide unemployment stood at 5%.
The latest agency estimates indicated Cherry Valley had the highest unemployment rate within the county in May at 8.7%, followed by Blythe at 8.6%, Coachella at 7.5%, Rancho Mirage at 6.9% and March Air Reserve Base at 6.7%
The combined unemployment rate for Riverside and San Bernardino counties — the Inland Empire — was 4.6%, down from 4.9% in April, the EDD stated.
Bi-county data indicated payrolls expanded by the widest margin in the agricultural sector, where 1,400 positions were added in May.
Additional gains were recorded in the construction, manufacturing and public sectors, which put nearly 1,000 people to work last month, figures showed.
Payrolls declined by the largest amount in the professional business services sector, which shed 1,800 jobs in May. Further losses were documented in the health services, hospitality, information technology and trade, transportation and utilities sectors, which sank by a total 2,400 positions, EDD said.
Miscellaneous unclassified industries also fell by 200 jobs.
The financial services and mining sectors were unchanged.
The statewide non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in May was 4.7%.
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