Unemployment Drops Below 6% in Riverside

Payroll gains in the regional economy more than offset losses, bringing Riverside County's unemployment down last month, according to figures released Friday by the California Employment Development Department.

The countywide jobless rate in September, based on preliminary EDD estimates, was 5.6%, compared to 6.2% in August.

According to data, the September rate was nearly a half-percentage point above the year-ago level, when countywide unemployment stood at 5.2%.

Mecca had the highest unemployment rate countywide in September at 13.4%, followed by Coachella at 13.1%, Cherry Valley at 10%, Desert Hot Springs at 8.1% and Rancho Mirage at 7.9%.

The combined unemployment rate for Riverside and San Bernardino counties — the Inland Empire — in September was 5.4%, down from 6% in August, the EDD said.

Bi-county data indicated payrolls expanded by the widest margin in the public sector, which added 9,100 positions, mostly in the education sector, as more teachers, administrators and support staff returned from summer hiatus.

The agricultural, health services, information technology, professional business services, and trade and transportation sectors grew by an aggregate 6,300 positions.

Payrolls shrank by the largest amount in the construction sector, which declined by 2,200 jobs last month. Meantime, the financial services, hospitality and manufacturing sectors collectively shed 2,300 jobs.

Miscellaneous unclassified industries additionally contracted by an estimated 600 jobs, according to figures.

Only the mining sector was unchanged in September.

The statewide non-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate last month was 5.3%.