Riverside County’s unemployment rate edged down to 4.7% in May, marking a slight improvement from April’s 4.9%, according to preliminary data from the California Employment Development Department (EDD). This decrease also placed the county’s jobless rate below the year-ago figure of 5%. Despite the overall drop, unemployment remains uneven across the county, with specific areas facing significantly higher rates.
The communities of Cherry Valley and Blythe experienced the highest unemployment rates within Riverside County, posting 8.7% and 8.6%, respectively. Other localities showing elevated levels included Coachella at 7.5%, Rancho Mirage at 6.9%, and the March Air Reserve Base at 6.7%. These pockets of higher unemployment contrast with the countywide average and highlight ongoing challenges in particular regions.
When combined with neighboring San Bernardino County, the Inland Empire's unemployment rate stood at 4.6% in May, down from 4.9% the previous month. This regional figure mirrors Riverside County’s downward trend but masks fluctuating employment dynamics across various industry sectors.
Payroll data from the bi-county area revealed growth concentrated primarily in agriculture, which added approximately 1,400 jobs last month. The construction, manufacturing, and public sectors also contributed to employment increases, collectively creating nearly 1,000 new positions.
Conversely, the professional business services sector experienced the steepest job losses, shrinking by roughly 1,800 positions in May. Additionally, health services, hospitality, information technology, and trade, transportation, and utilities sectors together cut around 2,400 jobs. Less significant declines occurred in miscellaneous unclassified industries, which lost about 200 roles, while the financial services and mining sectors showed no change.
Across California, the statewide non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate matched Riverside County’s at 4.7% for May, reflecting similar labor market conditions statewide.