Riverside County Unemployment Rates Tick Higher In Latest Report

RIVERSIDE COUNTY — Riverside County's unemployment rate ended 2023 above where it started the year amid a mix of payroll gains and losses, according to figures released Friday by the California Employment Development Department.

The countywide jobless rate in December, based on preliminary EDD estimates, was 5.2%, compared to 5.1% in November.

According to figures, the December rate was more than a full percentage point above the year-ago level, when countywide unemployment stood at 3.8%.

An estimated 59,700 county residents were recorded as out of work last month, and 1,098,700 were employed, according to EDD.

Mecca had the highest unemployment rate countywide in December at 12.5%, followed by Coachella at 10.4%, Cherry Valley at 9.3%, Desert Hot Springs at 7.5% and Rancho Mirage at 7.3%.

The combined unemployment rate for Riverside and San Bernardino counties -- the Inland Empire -- last month was 5.1%, up from 5% in November, the EDD said.

Bi-county data indicated that payrolls declined in the agricultural, financial services, hospitality and professional business services sectors, which altogether shed about 1,400 jobs.

Payrolls expanded by the widest margin in the trade and transportation sector, which added an estimated 2,100 jobs during the Christmas shopping season.

Additional minor gains were recorded in the construction, health services, manufacturing and public sectors, which grew by an aggregate 800 jobs.

Miscellaneous unclassified industries added another 300 positions, according to figures.

Data showed the statewide non-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate in December was 5.1%.