Unemployment Rate Drops in Murrieta

Murrieta's unemployment rate declined six-tenths of percentage point last month and Riverside County's fell an entire point last month as the number of people in the labor force dropped, state officials reported Friday.

Murrieta's non-seasonally-adjusted jobless rate in April, based on preliminary estimates, was 7.8 percent, compared to 8.4 percent in March, according to the California Economic Development Department.

The county saw a preliminary jobless rate of 11.8 percent, compared to 12.8 percent in March.

Lake Elsinore had an unemployment rate of 11.4 percent, Menifee's was 12.6, Temecula's was 8 percent and Wildomar 10.4 percent, according to preliminary figures from EDD.

Murrieta's civilian labor force numbered 28,000 in April, with 2,200 out of work, EDD reported. One year ago, the city had a labor force of 27,800, with 2,400 without work. Temecula had an April labor force of 37,600, with 3,000 unemployed.

The county's civilian labor force totaled 933,500 people, with 110,000 without work, according to figures. The labor pool was last below 934,000 in May 2011.

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 April was 11.7 percent, down from 12.7 percent the prior month.

Bi-county data indicated a net reduction of 1,700 jobs, with six sectors posting losses. The largest drop in payrolls was in the professional and business services sector, where 2,200 positions were cut.

The construction and manufacturing sectors added 1,200 jobs, while the leisure and hospitality industry boosted employment by 500.

The state's non-seasonally-adjusted jobless rate was 10.5 percent.

—City News Service and Maggie Avants contributed to this report