Murrieta's Jobless Rate Falls to Lowest Level This Year

Payroll expansion in most sectors of the local economy pushed Riverside County's unemployment rate below 13 percent last month and the city of Murrieta's to 8.5 percent, state officials reported Friday.

The county's non-seasonally-adjusted jobless rate in November, based on preliminary estimates, was 12.8 percent, compared to 13.7 percent in October, according to the California Economic Development Department.

The preliminary jobless rate in Murrieta was the lowest for the city this year, down six-tenths of a percentage point from an October rate of 9.1 percent, and 9.8 percent one year ago.

The November county figure was two percentage points below the year-ago level, when unemployment stood at 14.8 percent.

Riverside County's civilian labor force numbered 912,000 people, with 117,100 unemployed, according to the EDD.

Murrieta's labor force increased to 27,400 last month.

The city of Cabazon had the highest unemployment rate countywide, at 31 percent, followed by Mecca at 25 percent and Homeland at 24.6 percent.

Temecula had a preliminary jobless rate of 8.7 percent in November, down from 9.4 percent in October. In Menifee, 13.7 percent went without work last month, down from 14.6 percent the previous month.

Wildomar's November jobless rate was 11.3 percent, while Lake Elsinore's was 12.4 percent.

The combined unemployment rate for Riverside and San Bernardino counties in November was 12.5 percent, down from 13.3 percent the prior month.

Bi-county data indicated the largest payroll expansion was in trade, transportation and utilities, which grew by 7,800 jobs, with retailers adding a large number of positions in preparation for the holiday shopping blitz.

The leisure and hospitality industry also geared up for seasonal activity, creating 4,300 jobs last month.

The manufacturing sector showed the third-highest gain, putting 1,000 more people to work, while smaller gains were recorded in the government, farm, financial and business services sectors.

The largest decline in payrolls was in construction, where 1,700 positions were redlined.

The state's non-seasonally-adjusted jobless rate was 10.9 percent, and the national rate was 8.6 percent.

City News Service and Maggie Avants contributed to this report.