Unemployment

RIVERSIDE (CNS) – Riverside County’s unemployment rate fell last month, as modest gains in some sectors of the regional economy offset losses in others, according to figures released Friday by the California Employment Development Department.

The countywide jobless rate in May, based on preliminary EDD estimates, was 4.4%, compared to 4.9% in April.

According to data, the May rate was slightly above the year-ago level, when countywide unemployment stood at 4.2%.

Mecca had the highest unemployment rate countywide in May at 10.7%, followed by Coachella at 8.3%, Cherry Valley at 7.9%, Hemet at 6.3% and Rancho Mirage at 6.2%.

The combined unemployment rate for Riverside and San Bernardino counties — the Inland Empire — in May was 4.3%, down from 4.8% in April, according to the EDD.

Bi-county data indicated that payrolls expanded by the widest margin in the agricultural sector, which added an estimated 1,600 jobs last month.

Additional gains were recorded in the construction, hospitality, public and warehousing sectors, which altogether grew by 3,800 jobs, according to the EDD.

The financial services, information technology, manufacturing and professional business services sectors compressed in May, shedding a total 900 positions. Miscellaneous unclassified industries also declined by roughly 200 slots.

The educational services and mining sectors were unchanged, the EDD said.

The statewide non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in May was 4.5%.

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