IE Business Daily Business news for the Inland Empire.
The Inland Empire recorded 4.8 percent unemployment in May, essentially unchanged from the revised 4.9 percent of the previous month, according to data released June 20.
California’s unemployment rate was 4.9 percent last during the fifth month of the year, while the nation recorded a four percent jobless rate during that time, the state Employment Development Department reported.
Those numbers are unadjusted, meaning they don’t take into account seasonal factors that normally affect the job market. California’s adjusted unemployment rate in May was 5.3 percent, unchanged from April.
Non-agricultural employers in Riverside and San Bernardino counties added 3,100 jobs last month while agricultural employment added 1,500 jobs.
Government added 1,100 jobs, the most of any individual sector, while business and professional services grew by 800 jobs. Four other sectors in the two-county region added jobs between April and May, including leisure and hospitality (600) and construction (500).
Trade, transportation, and utilities dropped 400 jobs between April and May, the only Inland sector that posted a job loss during that time.
Year-over-year, non-farm employment in the Inland Empire went up 9,400 jobs, a 0.6 percent increase, while agricultural employment rose by 1,200 jobs, an 8.8 percent improvement, the EDD reported.
