Jobless rate continues to drop across Riverside County
With most sectors of the regional economy stabilizing after the holidays, the unemployment rate in Riverside County dropped marginally last month, according to data released today by state officials.
The jobless rate in February, based on preliminary estimates, was 4.6 percent, compared to 4.7 percent in January, according to the California Employment Development Department.
Agency figures showed that the February rate was nearly a percentage point below the year-ago level, when countywide unemployment stood at 5.5 percent.
The unincorporated community of Cabazon had the highest unemployment rate countywide at 11.8 percent, followed by Coachella at 9.4 percent and the unincorporated community of Lakeland Village at 7.7 percent.
The combined unemployment rate for Riverside and San Bernardino counties in February was 4.4 percent, compared to 4.6 percent in January, officials said.
Bi-county data indicated payrolls contracted in three sectors last month — agriculture, government and retail trade, which altogether shed 4,500 jobs.
With the exception of mining and miscellaneous unclassified industries, which showed no month-to-month change, all other sectors of the regional economy rebounded in February, expanding by a total 6,800 positions.
The state’s non-seasonally-adjusted jobless rate in February was 4.5 percent, according to the EDD.
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