The Inland Empire recorded a 5.7 percent unemployment rate in January, according to data released Friday.
That was up from a revised five percent in December and well below the nine percent jobless rate predicted exactly one year earlier, according to the state Employment Development Department.
This compares to the unadjusted unemployment rate of 5.5 percent for California, and 4.4 percent for the nation, during the same period.
The unemployment rate was 5.6 percent in Riverside County and 5.7 percent in San Bernardino County.
Between December and January, total non-farm employment in the state decreased from 1,632,500 to 1,607,200, a decline of 25,300 jobs. Trade, transportation, and utilities recorded the largest payroll decrease over the month, a drop of 10,700 jobs.
Educational and health services increased employment increased by 1,400 jobs between December and January, the EDD reported.