RivCo Jobless Rate Unchanged In July

RIVERSIDE, CA — Despite modest gains in multiple sectors of the regional economy, seasonal drops in others left Riverside County's unemployment rate unchanged last month, according to the latest figures released by the California Employment Development Department.

The jobless rate in July, based on preliminary EDD estimates, was 4%, the same as in June.

According to figures, the July rate was four percentage points lower than the year-ago level, when countywide unemployment stood at 8%, as the statewide coronavirus public health lockdowns were gradually eased.

An estimated 45,800 county residents were recorded as out of work in July, and 1,111,600 were employed, according to EDD.

Coachella had the highest unemployment rate countywide last month at 9%, followed by Cherry Valley at 7.4%, Mecca at 6.4%, Rancho Mirage at 6% and Indio at 5.5%.

The combined unemployment rate for Riverside and San Bernardino counties in July was 3.9%, down from 4% in June, according to figures.

Bi-county data indicated payrolls expanded by the widest margins in construction, leisure and hospitality, retail trade, health services and professional business services, which altogether swelled by 8,700 positions last month.

Additional gains were documented in the financial services sector and miscellaneous unclassified industries, which added an aggregate 800 jobs in July, according to EDD.

Payrolls sank by the largest amount in the public sector, which recorded a loss of 13,500 positions. However, most of those were in K-12 education, as teachers and support personnel went on seasonal summer hiatus.

The agricultural sector additionally posted a decline of 2,100 jobs, figures showed.

Data indicated that the statewide non-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate in July was 3.9%.

—City News Service