State Unemployment Rate Falls Slightly, Local Numbers Still High

A drop in public sector payrolls helped push the unemployment rate higher in Riverside County last month, according to state figures released today.

The county’s non-seasonally-adjusted jobless rate in June, based on preliminary estimates was 14.5 percent, up from 14 percent the previous month, according to the California Economic Development Department.

The rate was 13.7 percent in June 2009.

An estimated 132,600 county residents were of work last month, compared to 127,100 in May, EDD figures showed.

The unemployment rate in Riverside and San Bernardino counties combined was 14.4 percent, compared to 13.9 percent in May, according to the EDD.

Bi-county data showed 3,500 jobs were slashed from government payrolls last month. Most of the reductions were in federal jobs, suggesting workers hired temporarily for the Census were returning to the unemployment rolls, labor analysts said.

The leisure and hospitality industry, together with the educational and health services sector, pared some 2,200 positions, according to the EDD.

Several sectors reported gains, with farming being the largest, adding 2,500 workers in June. The trade, transportation and utilities sector added 1,000 jobs, while smaller gains were reported in professional and business services, as well as construction and mining.

The Inland Empire’s battered manufacturing sector recorded zero change in employment.

The total size of the civilian labor force in Riverside and San Bernardino counties in June was 1,779,700, with 256,400 unemployed.

The state’s jobless rate in June was 12.2 percent, and the national unemployment rate was 9.5 percent.