The Inland Empire recorded a 6.1 percent unemployment rate in July, up from 5.5 percent in June, according to data released Friday.
That was below the 6.7 percent that was predicted for the two-county region for one year, the state Employment Development Department reported in its monthly analysis of the California job market.
Statewide, the unemployment rate was 4.8 percent last month.
“The monthly gain in statewide jobs was the strongest since April of last year, and with few exceptions, the regions of the state added jobs as well,” said Robert Kleinhenz, executive director of research at the UC Riverside School of Business’ Center for Economic Forecasting and Development.
“With the unemployment rate bouncing along at 4. percent to 4.8 percent over the last four months, the labor market is effectively at full employment. While this is a good thing, it will limit growth in the California economy and its sectors into the future.”