Business & Tech

Murrieta Unemployment Rate up Slightly in May

At least 2,200 people were unemployed in Murrieta during the month of May, according to a preliminary state report.

Riverside County's unemployment rate remained just under 12 percent last month, though a few sectors reported modest payroll increases, the state's Economic Development Department reported Friday.

The county's non-seasonally-adjusted jobless rate in May, based on preliminary estimates, was 11.8 percent—the same as April, according to the EDD.

Murrieta saw a 7.8 percent unemployment rate in May, up one-tenth of a percentage point from April, according to the preliminary data—meaning there were 2,200 people out of work.

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Of neighboring cities, 11.4 percent were unemployed in Lake Elsinore, 10.4 percent were without jobs in Wildomar, and 8 percent were out of work in Temecula.

However, local unemployment remained more than a percentage point below the year-ago level, when the jobless rate hit 13.1 percent countywide.

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Murrieta had a jobless rate of 8.6 percent one year ago.

Riverside County's civilian labor force numbered 933,300 people, with 110,000 out of work, according to EDD figures.

The labor force in Murrieta numbered 28,000; Temecula's labor force numbered 37,500.

The city of Cabazon had the highest unemployment rate countywide at 29 percent, followed by Mecca at 23.4 percent and Homeland at 22.9, according to the EDD.

The combined unemployment rate for Riverside and San Bernardino counties in May was 11.8 percent, up from 11.7 percent the prior month.

Bi-county data indicated six sectors added jobs, while four sectors cut positions. The largest increase was in trade, transportation and utilities, where payrolls expanded by 2,300.

The regional economy's growth drivers, construction and manufacturing, were loss leaders last month, shrinking by a combined 1,400 jobs.

The state's non-seasonally-adjusted jobless rate was 10.4 percent, wth nearly 1.2 million people out of work.

Nevada continued to record the highest unemployment rate among the states, 11.6 percent in May. Rhode Island and California posted the next highest seasonally adjusted rates of 11.0 and 10.8 percent, respectively.

The national jobless rate, at 8.2 percent, was essentially unchanged from April, and eight-tenths of a percentage point lower than May 2011.

—City News Service contributed to this report.


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