The countywide jobless rate in June, based on preliminary EDD estimates, was 6%, compared to 4.9% in May.

According to figures, the June rate was half a percentage point higher than the year-ago level, when countywide unemployment then stood at 5.5%.

The combined unemployment rate for Riverside and San Bernardino counties — the Inland Empire — was 5.9%, up from 4.8% in May, the EDD said.

Data showed Cherry Valley had the highest unemployment rate countywide in June at 12.4%, followed by Rancho Mirage at 9.6%, Coachella at 9.2%, Valle Vista at 8.7% and Blythe at 7.9%.

Bi-county data indicated that payrolls declined by the widest margin last month in the professional business services sector, which shed 2,400 positions.

Further losses were recorded in the trade, transportation and utilities, as well as the health services, sectors, reflecting an aggregate drop of 1,500 jobs.

The construction sector had the greatest gains in June, adding an estimated 1,700 positions, while additional increases were documented in the agricultural, hospitality, manufacturing and public sectors, which altogether swelled by 2,700 jobs, according to figures.

Miscellaneous unclassified industries, along with the financial and information technology sectors, were unchanged.

The statewide non-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate in June was 5.7%.

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The countywide jobless rate in January, based on preliminary EDD estimates, was 5.3%, compared to 5% in December.

According to figures, the January rate was two-tenths of a percentage point below the year-ago level, when countywide unemployment stood at 5.5%.

EDD posted the data outside of its usual schedule due to an annual statistical revision process done in concert with the U.S. Department of Labor known as “benchmarking,” which is intended to improve accuracy of results.

The process will wrap up toward the end of this month, at which point the February jobless numbers will be released.

The latest agency estimates indicated that Mecca had the highest unemployment rate within the county in January at 12.9%, followed by Cherry Valley at 9.6%, Coachella at 8.7%, Rancho Mirage at 7.6% and East Hemet at 7.4%

The combined unemployment rate for Riverside and San Bernardino counties — the Inland Empire — was also 5.3%, up from 4.9% in December, the EDD said.

Bi-county data indicated that payrolls shrank across the board, led by the trade, transportation and utilities sector, which shed an estimated 23,400 jobs, mainly in retail trade, as outlets and suppliers began cutting back following the Holiday Season shopping blitz.

Additional loses were recorded in the agricultural, construction, financial services, health services, hospitality, information technology, manufacturing and professional business services sectors, which lost an aggregate 16,000 positions, according to figures.

Miscellaneous unclassified industries also contracted by 1,000.

The mining and public sectors were unchanged.

The statewide non-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate in January was 5.5%.

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RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Riverside County’s unemployment rate dropped back below 5% last month amid payroll gains across most sectors of the regional economy, according to figures released Friday by the California Employment Development Department.

The countywide jobless rate in April, based on preliminary EDD estimates, was 4.9%, compared to 5.2% in March.

The last time the county’s rate registered below 5% was in June.

According to data, the April rate was a full percentage point above the year-ago level, when countywide unemployment stood at 3.9%.

Mecca had the highest unemployment rate countywide in April at 11.8%, followed by Cherry Valley at 8.8%, Coachella at 8.4%, Rancho Mirage and Hemet each at 6.9%, and East Hemet at 6.7%.

The combined unemployment rate for Riverside and San Bernardino counties — the Inland Empire — in April was 4.8%, down from 5.1% in March, the EDD said.

Bi-county data indicated that payrolls expanded by the widest margin in the public sector, mainly in the regional education system, with an estimated 1,500 jobs added.

Additional gains were recorded in the financial services, health services, hospitality, manufacturing and transportation sectors, which altogether grew by 2,600 jobs, according to the EDD.

Miscellaneous unclassified industries also showed payroll growth, totaling about 500 positions.

The agricultural, construction, information technology and professional business services sectors compressed last month, shedding a total 2,300 positions.

Only the mining sector was unchanged, the EDD said.

The statewide non-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate in April was 4.8%.

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