Local jobless rate rises

Riverside County’s unemployment rate jumped nearly ahalf-percentage point to start off 2013 with job losses in most every sector ofthe regional economy.

The county’s non-seasonally adjusted jobless rate in January, based onpreliminary estimates, was 11.5 percent, compared with 11.1 percent inDecember, according to the California Employment Development Department.

The rate was still more than a percentage point below the level ofJanuary 2012, when unemployment stood at 12.8 percent.

The civilian labor force numbered 950,000 people, with 109,400 out ofwork, according to figures.

The city of Cabazon had the highest unemployment rate countywide, at28.5 percent, followed by Mecca at 22.9 percent and Homeland at 22.5 percent,according to the EDD.

Figures for February are expected to be released in the next threeweeks. The information has been delayed due to annual revisions in the data-collection process.

The combined unemployment rate for Riverside and San Bernardino countiesin January also was 11.5 percent, up from 11 percent the prior month.

Bi-county data indicated payrolls contracted most significantly intrade, transportation and utilities, which lost 10,900 jobs, reflecting thepost-Christmas season drop in demand for labor at retail outlets.

The educational and health services sector shed 3,200 positions, whilethe construction sector shrank by 2,400 jobs, according to the EDD.

Job losses totaling 3,800 were recorded in the public, financial,information technology, manufacturing, farm and other sectors, data showed.

Only the leisure and hospitality industry added jobs — 1,400.

The state’s non-seasonally adjusted jobless rate in January was 10.4percent.