Unemployment Rate Remains Unchanged in Murrieta

About 2,500 people were out of jobs in Murrieta during March, according to a report released by state officials Friday.

Out of a workforce of 26,900 in Murrieta, preliminary data from the California Employment Development Department showed 9.4 percent were jobless last month.

That number remained unchanged between February and March, but was down from 9.5 percent in January. Murrieta's unemployment rate peaked at 10.3 percent in July and August of 2010. In March 2007, it was 3.4 percent.

Murrieta's unemployment rate remains slightly under Temecula's, which was 9.7 percent in February and March and 9.8 percent in January.

In Riverside County, 14.1 percent of the workforce were out of jobs. The combined unemployment rate for Riverside and San Bernardino counties in March was 13.9 percent, also unchanged from the prior month.   

Bi-county data showed payroll expansion in most sectors of the Inland Empire economy, with a significant upward spike in construction industry and farm jobs. The two sectors together added 5,400 positions.

Roughly 800 jobs were lost in professional and business services, as well as leisure and hospitality.   

The civilian labor force in Riverside and San Bernardino counties swelled last month by nearly 5,000, and the larger pool of available workers blunted the effects of increased hiring.

Statewide, the number was 12.3 percent were unemployed while federally, the unemployment rate was 8.8.

City News Service contributed to this report.