While unemployment numbers stayed the same across Los Angeles and Riverside counties in May 2025, joblessness was down in Orange County and in the Inland Empire as a whole.
Los Angeles County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged over the month at 5.8% in May, from a revised 5.8% in April, according to figures released today by the state Employment Development Department. The 5.8% rate was above the rate of 5.7% a year ago.
Total non-farm employment in Los Angeles County increased by 13,800 jobs between April and May to reach more than 4.61 million.
The trade, transportation and utilities sector showed month-over increases of 900 positions. The government sector posted month-over-month gains of 2,500 jobs.
The May unemployment rate in Orange County was 3.6%, down from a revised 3.7% in April, and up from 3.3% a year ago.
In Orange County, non-farm employment increased by 5,700 jobs to reach 1.69 million. Leisure and hospitality added 2,500 payroll jobs over the month, the most of any sector.
The combined unemployment rate for Riverside and San Bernardino counties — the Inland Empire — was 4.8%, down from 4.9% in April, the EDD said.
In Riverside County alone, the jobless rate in May, based on preliminary EDD estimates, was 4.9%, equaling the rate published in April.
According to figures, the May rate was four-tenths of a percentage point higher than the year-ago level, when Riverside County unemployment then stood at 4.5%.
Data showed Cherry Valley had the highest unemployment rate countywide in May at 10.2%, followed by Coachella at 8%, Rancho Mirage at 7.9%, Banning at 6.6% and Hemet at 6.5%.
Bi-county data indicated that payrolls increased by the widest margin last month in the agricultural sector, which added 1,500 positions.
Further Inland Empire gains were recorded in the construction, hospitality, information technology, professional business services and public sectors, which expanded by a total 3,100 jobs, while miscellaneous unclassified industries added another 400, according to figures.
The only sector drop for the Inland Empire identified in May was in the trade, transportation and utilities sector, which shed an estimated 400 jobs, according to the EDD.
The financial services, health services, mining and manufacturing sectors were unchanged.
Statewide, California’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.3% in May, the same figure as the previous month, and 5.2% a year ago. The comparable estimates for the nation were 4.2% in May, the same number as April, and 4.0% a year ago.
